my favorite is the Kilkerran Heavily Peated. I have had the 2019 version of this sherry 8 yr too , and I have an unopened 2021 version in front of me now. thanks for the review.
The only Campbeltown single malt whisky that gets imported here on somewhat regular basis is Glen Scotia core range: Double Cask, 15 yo and Voctoriana. I have an open bottle of the 15 yo with maybe 3 drams left on it and I love it. In 2020 I managed to buy 2 bottles of Springbank 10 of which one of the better retailers had stocked a couple of cases. Love it too, maybe even just a little more than Glen Scotia 15😀 As for the Kilkerran I was lucky enough to spot a single bottle of the 12 yo on the shelve of a tiny liquor and tobacco store when I was passing by it an year and a half ago. The lady in the store didn't have the slightest idea what she was selling. It costed me around 36 euro. Haven't opened it yet. Of course there is this premium whisky shop downtown where I can find almost anything except some very limited releases but the prices are borderline absurd... I can see your point about the over hyped 8 yo sherry casks Kilkerran. 110 euro for 8 yo whisky is very far from reasonable. I got both Glenallachie 10 cask strength batch 3 and 4 at around 45 euro. I doubt that Kilkerran 8 is twice as good... BTW last week I bought a couple of bottles of Glenallachie 12, 2020 release at around 35 euro. Now this is what I call high quality/price ratio.
Hi Jaosn, great review!. I was hesitant to pay around 70 euro for the previous kilkerran oloroso bottling. That was before the hype around that bottle really set in. I was like, 70 euro is a bit much for an 8 year old!. Then it turned out to be one of the best whiskies of 2019 and I was kicking myself for not getting it when I could. But there is no point in buying these bottles for the exaggerated retail prices. Springbank retail prices are way over the top these days. The local barley oloroso was gone in the blink of an eye and the next day it appeared online for like 4 times the original price.
@@WhiskyJason1 Thanks yourself! Here in Sweden the state has a monopoly on selling spirits so I managed two get a hold of 2 bottles of this new Kilkerran at 76€/bottle. One of few upsides to state monopoly when something gets overhyped, no retailers who can bump the prices up. The bottles do however disappear in half an hour online...
I long for old 8yo kilkerran from bourbon barrels/casks but hype on sherry is so big and 'bad money drives out good', otherwise 15yo springbank keeps the level on truck
@WhiskyJason will be great to see your opinion, I hope good one ;), inspired from your word, today I am also going to find in my 'vault' kk8yo ex bourbon and compare with glenallachie 10 batch 1 or 2 (as I remember also old robust ex-bourbon) and maybe some of springbank 12 ex-bourbon, I wonder what you find to compare ;) (of course not to reveal the secret)
The hype recent surrounding Kilkerran started with the 8 year sherry release a couple of years ago. That was fuelled by the Campbeltown myth and an enduring yet ridiculous obsession with sherry cask whisky. Oddly enough the Springbank 15 kind of slips under the radar of the myth and has never been that popular. I like Kilkerran but they are becoming part of whisky merry go round. There is nothing to stop Springbank and Kilkerran setting the retail price so that consumers don't get ripped off. If customers wish to auction their whisky later that is up to them. There are retailers that sat on their stock and are now charging £150 for this stuff. I also think Springbank and Kilkerran should get their heads out of their arses and allocate more to their home market. What's so wholesome and local about a distillery that charges £200 for a 21 year old whisky anyway? You can't buy their products in Britain any more but our Canadian and American friends can walk into their local booze store and pick them off the shelf. You can say it's the market doing the talking but that's the language we use for Macallan and Dallmore. Looks like little old cottage industry Springbank/Kilkerran are doing a Ben and Jerry's.
You can't walk into stores here and pick these off a shelf. You have to get lucky and be at the right place at right time. It's very random on where these end up. Most stores here won't ship either unlike the shops overseas where you can just click buy (if you timed it right). Cheers Welsh!
but straight from the bottle is how the master blender created this whiskey - so that is how I want to experience this whisky. I share my bottles and so everyone gets just a sample which can also not be allowed to change in the bottle. My reviews are almost always neck pours on purpose
my favorite is the Kilkerran Heavily Peated. I have had the 2019 version of this sherry 8 yr too , and I have an unopened 2021 version in front of me now. thanks for the review.
Thanks Christopher
The only Campbeltown single malt whisky that gets imported here on somewhat regular basis is Glen Scotia core range: Double Cask, 15 yo and Voctoriana. I have an open bottle of the 15 yo with maybe 3 drams left on it and I love it.
In 2020 I managed to buy 2 bottles of Springbank 10 of which one of the better retailers had stocked a couple of cases. Love it too, maybe even just a little more than Glen Scotia 15😀
As for the Kilkerran I was lucky enough to spot a single bottle of the 12 yo on the shelve of a tiny liquor and tobacco store when I was passing by it an year and a half ago. The lady in the store didn't have the slightest idea what she was selling. It costed me around 36 euro. Haven't opened it yet.
Of course there is this premium whisky shop downtown where I can find almost anything except some very limited releases but the prices are borderline absurd...
I can see your point about the over hyped 8 yo sherry casks Kilkerran. 110 euro for 8 yo whisky is very far from reasonable. I got both Glenallachie 10 cask strength batch 3 and 4 at around 45 euro. I doubt that Kilkerran 8 is twice as good...
BTW last week I bought a couple of bottles of Glenallachie 12, 2020 release at around 35 euro. Now this is what I call high quality/price ratio.
Glenallachie 10 cask strength batch 4 - is very good and better than Kilkerren 8 in my opinion
Ralfy and Roy. I got them both in America, the greatest country in the history of the world for 120 each :/
Kilkerran - often too difficult to find
Nice job, Jason. So much hype around these releases and while I’ve liked them they’ve yet to really blow my mind.
too much hype in my opinion
More of an Ex Bourbon fan on these KK8's. And yes I would rather see the distilleries get the extra money.
me too - BTW you inspired me to speak about this
@@WhiskyJason1 Oh nice :-). I have not had the new one.
My favorite Campbeltown whisky was the 13year old Longrow Red Pinot Noir cask...
I just recently tried my first Longrow - WOW!!!
Thanks. My Campbeltown's goes Springbank 12 y.o. CS.
Thanks Hugo!!
Hi Jaosn, great review!.
I was hesitant to pay around 70 euro for the previous kilkerran oloroso bottling. That was before the hype around that bottle really set in. I was like, 70 euro is a bit much for an 8 year old!. Then it turned out to be one of the best whiskies of 2019 and I was kicking myself for not getting it when I could.
But there is no point in buying these bottles for the exaggerated retail prices. Springbank retail prices are way over the top these days. The local barley oloroso was gone in the blink of an eye and the next day it appeared online for like 4 times the original price.
Please don't pay exaggerated retail prices - never worth it
The market is certainly over heated. Still, I hope I can find this one. I do not mind a little sulfur, so that should not hurt. Thanks for sharing
thanks Jon
My favourite is the Springbank 10 but the cask strength 12 y.o. is great too.
Springbank cask strength 12 - really depends on the year of the bottling
Great review! My favourite is the Longrow 18 from 2020 followed by the Springbank 15 and Glen Scotia 14 Tawny port from the 2020 festival.
Thanks William!
@@WhiskyJason1 Thanks yourself! Here in Sweden the state has a monopoly on selling spirits so I managed two get a hold of 2 bottles of this new Kilkerran at 76€/bottle. One of few upsides to state monopoly when something gets overhyped, no retailers who can bump the prices up. The bottles do however disappear in half an hour online...
There are pro's and con's with each system :-)
I long for old 8yo kilkerran from bourbon barrels/casks but hype on sherry is so big and 'bad money drives out good', otherwise 15yo springbank keeps the level on truck
I will do a review on a Kilkerran CS from a bourbon barrel soon
@WhiskyJason will be great to see your opinion, I hope good one ;), inspired from your word, today I am also going to find in my 'vault' kk8yo ex bourbon and compare with glenallachie 10 batch 1 or 2 (as I remember also old robust ex-bourbon) and maybe some of springbank 12 ex-bourbon, I wonder what you find to compare ;) (of course not to reveal the secret)
Enjoy Kopi!
The hype recent surrounding Kilkerran started with the 8 year sherry release a couple of years ago. That was fuelled by the Campbeltown myth and an enduring yet ridiculous obsession with sherry cask whisky. Oddly enough the Springbank 15 kind of slips under the radar of the myth and has never been that popular. I like Kilkerran but they are becoming part of whisky merry go round. There is nothing to stop Springbank and Kilkerran setting the retail price so that consumers don't get ripped off. If customers wish to auction their whisky later that is up to them. There are retailers that sat on their stock and are now charging £150 for this stuff. I also think Springbank and Kilkerran should get their heads out of their arses and allocate more to their home market. What's so wholesome and local about a distillery that charges £200 for a 21 year old whisky anyway? You can't buy their products in Britain any more but our Canadian and American friends can walk into their local booze store and pick them off the shelf. You can say it's the market doing the talking but that's the language we use for Macallan and Dallmore. Looks like little old cottage industry Springbank/Kilkerran are doing a Ben and Jerry's.
oddly enough the Springbank 15 kind of slips under the radar - how true. And I just notice, I have never reviewed the Springbank 15
You can't walk into stores here and pick these off a shelf. You have to get lucky and be at the right place at right time. It's very random on where these end up. Most stores here won't ship either unlike the shops overseas where you can just click buy (if you timed it right). Cheers Welsh!
Hi Jason great review, would like to hear what you think about the 16 yo Kilkerran. Cheers from Israel 🇮🇱
Sorry - I didn't get a Kilkerran 16, I guess I was too slow
Jason which Batch do you prefer out of the 5? Assuming you have been able to try them all.
sorry this is the only one so far
What batch is the year 2019 bottling. is it batch 3
This is the batch #5
www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/176854/kilkerran-08-year-old
Re-charred Oloroso Sherry Cask
ok - thanks!
Im my opinion you should never review an neck pour cask strength whisky.
but straight from the bottle is how the master blender created this whiskey - so that is how I want to experience this whisky. I share my bottles and so everyone gets just a sample which can also not be allowed to change in the bottle. My reviews are almost always neck pours on purpose