Kilchoman
Encyclopedia
The Kilchoman Distillery is a distillery that produces single malt Scotch whisky
on Islay
, an island of the Inner Hebrides
. The distillery is situated on the western side of Islay, near the small settlement of Kilchoman. The location made it the distillery the most westerly in Scotland, until the Abhainn Dearg Distillery started distilling on the Isle of Lewis, which now makes them the most westerly distillery
in 124 years. The distillery uses barley grown on site at Rockside Farm and malted at the distillery, as well as malt from the Port Ellen maltings and releases separate bottlings depending on the source of the grain.
It is one of only six Scottish distilleries still doing traditional floor-maltings, and will be unique in having all parts of the process - growing barley, malting, distilling, maturing and bottling - carried out on islay.
The distillery first filled casks on December 14, 2005 and the distillery began bottling 3 year old single malt in September 2009. Kilchoman also intends to release 5, 8, 10 and 12 Year old bottlings. The whisky will primarily age in bourbon
casks, though sherry
casks will also be employed.. The first official Kilchoman, the "Inaugural release" was released in 2009 and the first 100% Islay whisky released in 2011.
The whisky produced by the Port Ellen maltings are peated to the same levels as Ardbeg, while the malt peated on their own floor maltings will be approximately 25 ppm
Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky , Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky.All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three...
on Islay
Islay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
, an island of the Inner Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which enjoy a mild oceanic climate. There are 36 inhabited islands and a further 43 uninhabited Inner Hebrides with an area greater than...
. The distillery is situated on the western side of Islay, near the small settlement of Kilchoman. The location made it the distillery the most westerly in Scotland, until the Abhainn Dearg Distillery started distilling on the Isle of Lewis, which now makes them the most westerly distillery
History
The distillery began production in June 2005, and was the first to be built on the island of IslayIslay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
in 124 years. The distillery uses barley grown on site at Rockside Farm and malted at the distillery, as well as malt from the Port Ellen maltings and releases separate bottlings depending on the source of the grain.
The distillery first filled casks on December 14, 2005 and the distillery began bottling 3 year old single malt in September 2009. Kilchoman also intends to release 5, 8, 10 and 12 Year old bottlings. The whisky will primarily age in bourbon
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...
casks, though sherry
Sherry
Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes that are grown near the town of Jerez , Spain. In Spanish, it is called vino de Jerez....
casks will also be employed.. The first official Kilchoman, the "Inaugural release" was released in 2009 and the first 100% Islay whisky released in 2011.
The whisky produced by the Port Ellen maltings are peated to the same levels as Ardbeg, while the malt peated on their own floor maltings will be approximately 25 ppm