
August 15, 2016

New Kilkerran 12 and friend

The new and first core-of-range Kilkerran is out, let’s try it. Yeah I’ve decided not to rack my brain today.

Kilkerran 12 yo (46%, OB, 2016)

That’s right, the first ‘regular’ expression of Glengyle/Kilkerran, after the various ‘WIPs’ that have almost all been very convincing. Although I preferred the bourbon versions, but that’s a matter of taste. Love the no-fuss label by the way. Colour: straw. Nose: pristine lemony/chalky/sooty start, then rather broken branches and a touch of liquorice wood, as well as hints of bandages and tiger balm. Perhaps barbecued herbs, perhaps thyme and rosemary? I can’t seem to find anything bad to say about this nose. Mouth: impeccably old-style, sooty, rather peaty, peppery, lemony, and really very salty. It is totally distillate-forward, which is always something we enjoy at WF Towers. I find there’s something ‘old Springbank’ to this baby that goes straight into my personal pantheon of readily available large-batch malts. Finish: long, with perhaps a few more notes of bonbons, but the salty tang and the lingering peppery peat still play first fiddles. Comments: ah, yes, I’ve got something bad to say, it’s a shame that this was to be expected, and that consequently, no good surprises could occur. I may write a letter… SGP:353 - 90 points.

Yeah, go find a good sparring partner… Unless, wait, a young naked old Springbank, perhaps, to check whether my impressions were right or wrong? Rummage rummage…

Springbank 8 yo 'Glens Extra' (70°proof, Robert Watson Aberdeen, 75cl, 1960's)

We’ve already tried other versions of Glens Extra, which was some pure young Springbank bottled for Italy. Robert Watson was one of Cadenhead’s sub-brands. This very bottling had a black screw cap, while others had golden ones, but we all know that that doesn’t mean too much. Anyway… Colour: white wine. Nose: well, hard to say, as in this one, a part of the peatiness transformed into these stunning tropical fruits that can also be found in Laphroaig and Bowmore bottled at the time. Mangos and maracujas, all that. But beyond that very tropical layer of aromas, the cores seem to be similar, chalky, mineral, sooty, smoky… But this little Glens Extra is really brilliant. Mouth: this is where the Kilkerran wins, by a small margin. Not that the Springer is weaker, or not just superb, it’s simply got this paraffiny je-ne-sais-quoi that Springbank sometimes had and that’s not always totally pleasant. Other than that, it’s perfect. Chalky lemons, smoky grapefruits, and some kind of ‘green soot’. Finish: surprisingly long, and just as salty as the Kilkerran’s. Comments: same family, obviously. Which is very refreshing! Also love the fact that they carefully avoided any stupid ‘innovations’ with the Kilkerran. You only have to innovate when what you’ve already got isn’t perfect, am I not right? SGP:452 - 89 points.