My very first Kilchoman.
The smell is that of tobacco smoke at its best. Like as an ex-smoker, so very sometimes I suddenly smelled a wapper from a cigarette (Gauloise is famous / infamous) and can smell not horrible but just as deeply, full of homesickness and desire, longing back for the rare spicy comfort that cigarettes so very sometimes bring .
Addictions bring out the lyrical poet in people, you can see that again here. Vincent had his Absinthe, Paul & John had LSD, I had la dame Gauloise.
On the palate, the smoke is mild, juicy (juicy smoke? Omvlee, are you okay?) And constructive - it supports and enhances the mild cherry, wood and (far away ...) vanilla notes. Softly sweet, complete, casual and without harsh notes, this whisky is complete but has no outliers, which makes it a bit anonymous. The sherry is not very present, and that was the reason why I bought it.
The finish is warm, peppery, drying in the mouth, with woody notes and ash.
Conclusion: good stuff. Promises more (sherry) than it delivers. Not much depth - NAS, low price, let's go. Pull up a cigarette after 13 years of abstinence. And thanks. I still have the rest of the bottle.