Kilchoman Machir Bay Collaborative Vatting

Kilchoman Machir Bay

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Kilchoman distillery here at K&L. Our visit to the distillery on Islay really opened our eyes to the incredible job they’re doing. Kilchoman is a tiny operation, producing on one still and malting whatever they can inside their humble barn. Because of their small scale, the cost of production is higher and prices for their whisky have not been inexpensive. But having tasted the new-make spirit right off the still, we can firmly say that, in our opinion, there is no higher quality peated whisky being produced anywhere else. Kilchoman’s hands-on style and attention to detail make a world of difference. Every release has been better than the last, albeit extremely limited in supply. All that said, this small farm is finally introducing a full-time, affordable house recipe, rather than another pricey single-barrel release. The Machir Bay is not only incredibly delicious, but it’s also a huge victory for a distillery that had to overcome huge obstacles. At $54, this is what Kilchoman fans have been waiting for: incredibly delicate, finely-tuned flavors of soft smoke, sea salt, creamy vanilla and butterscotch. It’s a more subdued version of their high-toned barrel expressions, but it’s still very much Kilchoman. Think Bruichladdich meets Lagavulin. Think possibly best whisky value from Islay.