Kilchoman Casado

Kilchoman was founded in 2005 by Anthony Wills in the northwest corner of Islay, near Machir Bay. It sources its barley from Rockside Farm along with Port Ellen maltings. Interestingly, the Port Ellen maltings are peated to 50ppm, whereas the maltings done at the distillery are closer to 20ppm. From 2005 to 2023, the distillery sourced its barrels from Buffalo Trace but since 2023, the barrels come from Breckenridge Distillery in Colorado. The distillery frequently uses sherry and other ex-wine casks to finishing or full maturation, both in their core and more limited offerings. The Kilchoman Casado is a limited edition offering that debuted in 2022. The name Casado is Portuguese for marriage and the whisky is matured in first fill-bourbon barrels for 6 years before 38 casks were blended for 2 years in two 6,000 liter Portuguese red wine vats.

Distillery: Kilchoman
Region: Islay
Age: NA
Strength: 46%
Price: $119.99
Maturation: ex-bourbon and ex-Portuguese red wine vats.
Location: Rockside Farm
Nose: Peat, smoke, fruit, grain, vanilla, green peppercorns, mushroom
Palate: Peat, sweet, vanilla
Finish: Smoke, vanilla

Comments: 

Adam – Sweet peat and fruit greet the first whiff of the Casado, wrapped in a gentle smoky and earthy hug. This is an inviting nose, asking you to come in from the cold and sit by the fire. There are some light fruits here along the edge that don’t coalesce into individual varietals but play a nice balance to the peppercorns also in the background. I can see the palate not being for everyone, as it is multilayered and if you don’t pay attention, could be a mess. Except it’s not a mess. Smoke and peat rub elbows before giving way to a fruit-y core that can be tinged with brine depending on the mouthfeel. The finish dries but leaves you with a slightly sweet smoke, touched by the vanilla from the wood perhaps. I’m surprised the wine vat influence isn’t more prominent here but am not sad about it. The dual cask blend allows the core flavors of the Casado to shine yet with an added complexity that is overall quite delightful. A dram that asks you to sit down, slow the galloping hoofbeats of your life, and consider some quiet contemplation.

Henry – Sweet and savory on the nose. Smoke, vegetal notes, green peat, vanilla, green peppercorns, and aromatic red fruits play nice with each other. On the palate, it’s jammy, smoky, peaty, and briny in that perfect Islay-winey way. The finish distills down the flavors into a wonderful sweet-savory peaty delight.

Ben – Mushrooms in a bernaise, from the nose. The palate brings the savory to balance the sweet. I can get into this. The Casado has all the classic Kilchoman things I love. There are parts here that are not obvious, it doesn’t overwhelm you or punch you in the face. This has a palate that balances it’s nose and I like that.

Bill – The Casado is a really sweet and savory on the nose. I want mushroom pie with this. There’s a big vanilla that runs through all of this. It has all these Kilchoman notes that are lovely and it has a little extra panache without it being overbearing. It doesn’t take control over it. It’s having some fun here.

Mike – I want a mushroom marsala, based on the nose. I quite enjoy the Casado. I’m surprised but not necessarily upset that I don’t get the Portugese wine barrel influence on the palate in an obvious way. With a lot of wine finishes, there’s not that obvious wine funk.