Kilkerran 08-year-old

Name: Kilkerran 08-year-old
Brand: Kilkerran
SKU: 94272
Rating: 85.89 (442 reviews)

Overall rating: 85.89/100
votes: 442

Whiskybase ID: WB94272
Category: Single Malt
Distillery: Glengyle
Bottler: Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie: Cask Strength
Bottled: 20.03.2017
Stated Age: 08 years old
Casktype: Bourbon
Casknumber: Batch #1
Number of bottles: 9000
Strength: 56.2 % Vol.
Size: 700 ml 750 ml
Bottle code: 17/132
Barcode: 610854002701
Added on: 28 mar 2017 9:54 am by bert61nl

Average value

€ 260.70

Found 2 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 216.43

	Harbour Cellar	€ 304.97

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There is 1 other release…

Whisky reviews for Kilkerran 08-year-old

79 users have left 83 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 85.89 points.

Nosingbär scored this whisky 89 points
10 nov 2022 12:56 pm
It's been my ups and downs with Kilkerran and my conclusion is that the less I like him the more I don't really make time for him. Then it's angular and complicated, if I'm honest. But if I have patience and time, it's worth 89 points. That's how I rate him, because I don't correct my bad ratings on the bad days. On average, he would therefore get closer to 88 points. With time an elegant smoker in the nose and a hearty firework in the mouth, without time and with hectic a firecracker extinguished in the mouth. Incidentally, I also think that it gets better in the bottle, so maybe let it sit for a few months after opening.

Nose

Aromatic, sour, smoky funk (a kind of tingling like a shower in the nose). Lemon peel and lemon juice, dirty vanilla, some savory notes and a sweet component in the malty direction, not sweet and dark enough for toffee. The smoke is slightly acidic, that's the typical Kilkerran note that you may or may not like. The best way to describe it is with a damp stone staircase in the cellar, on which white wine was poured out. Luckily, it weakens over time and fades into the background. Also some herbs in the nose. Laurel, sage, basil. After water and 15 minutes time, the nose becomes immediately round and pleasant, the corners and edges are rounded off and fit more into the whole. There is some fresh fruitiness and a gentle floral note. Even a little honey. The lemon becomes sweeter and lemon curd is added.

Taste

sour, smoky, then comes sweetness and even more smoke and spice. Salt, lemon, the dirty vanilla again. hearty. Clearly. This whisky has that certain umami note between sweet and salty. Grammel dumplings. Great mouthfeel, oily, voluminous, full-bodied. A cluster of lemon and umami.

Finish

Vanilla, while the smoke subsides with a pleasant tingle. The smoke gives the finish the impression of a longer aged whisky. A little oak. Well done salami. Estragon mustard. Some salt and pepper.
JacobaEd scored this whisky 85 points
27 oct 2022 11:11 pm
Nose

86 86

Taste

86 86

Finish

84 84
Bembel scored this whisky 85 points
14 sep 2022 4:59 pm
Nose

Salty maritime, subtle smoke. Comes fresh.
Later sweet notes of light fruit. Something floral. Vanilla.

+Water: opens up, becomes more complex. Green apple, shortbread and lemon are added.

Taste

Powerful start. Salty maritime, peppery spiciness, slightly dry oak and earthy. Alcohol clearly present.

+Water: Buttery-Oily, Sweet Apple, Salty-Smoky. Little pepperiness and wood.

Finish

Long. warming. woody.

+Water: Short, sweet with some smoke.
MasterMork scored this whisky 87 points
26 jul 2022 7:24 pm
Nose

86 86

8

Taste

87 87

Finish

87 87
Petitcham scored this whisky 87 points
06 jun 2022 4:02 pm

Fruity and spice of a neat bourbon cask, smooth kilkerran

Airing is getting stronger, and the floral is getting stronger
larswehmeier scored this whisky 87 points
22 apr 2022 8:30 pm
Eight years is a great age for Kilkerran and this one shows how wonderfully the raw distillate works with ex-bourbon casks.
Classic Campbeltown malt without unnecessary frills.

Nose

Lots of vanilla, fine peat smoke, wet wood, rhubarb, green apple

Taste

Powerful start, chalky, milk chocolate, walnut

Finish

Warming, long, a fine touch of smoke.
tancerz11111 scored this whisky 87 points
08 apr 2022 8:29 pm
Nose

87 87

Taste

87 87

Finish

88 88
Tomek scored this whisky 84 points
31 mar 2022 7:02 pm

Aroma: light, sweet, vanilla, delicate sea influence, citrus, cereal
Taste: vanilla, peppery, delicate peat, earthy, metallic
Finish: warming, citrus, vanilla
Grade: 4
LDB scored this whisky 87 points
28 mar 2022 7:34 pm
Remarkable for the age, no, very remarkable!

Nose

86 86

A bit reserved at first, then peat smoke, ham and a distinct maritime note, fresh sea breeze.

Taste

88 88

Very oily mouthfeel, delicious, with smoky fruit.

Finish

87 87

Long, intense finish with amazingly mature components; definitely not a cheap "oak in your face";)
Beatroute Malt scored this whisky 85 points
19 mar 2022 10:03 pm

Mild nose, not a lot going on. Semi dry palate, some pepper, hint of vanilla, short, but warming finish.
Don Cassi scored this whisky 81 points
23 dec 2021 9:45 pm

Slightly fruity like banana and citrus, cheesy and musty with great integrated alcohol. Not a complexity monster but well done.
Length: 5/10

Grade: 2+
yarikovsky scored this whisky 86 points
16 dec 2021 9:53 pm
Nose

87 87

Taste

86 86

Finish

86 86
aboutWhisky scored this whisky 85 points
07 dec 2021 4:45 pm
Glengyle delivers a very good malt here for the somewhat young age. The nose is very interesting with constantly changing impressions. On the tongue it shows a great start with a real "fruit explosion". The clear bitterness that appears in the mouth after a few seconds and spreads very dominantly, especially in the finish, is a bit "too much" for my taste.

https://www.aboutwhisky.de/tastingnotes/kilkerran-8-jahre-cask-strength-batch-1/

Nose

The first impression is sweet and slightly smoky. The general aroma is very light and fresh, the smoke very pleasant. The alcohol tickles my nose a bit. After a few minutes, the smoke subsides a little and there is a surge of sweet and sour citrus fruits. The aroma becomes a little more intense and the sweetness decreases. Then I feel the smoke stronger again, behind it are apricot jam and vanilla. In the long run, the feeling in the nose becomes a little drier. The sour citrus fruits predominate and a slightly spicy oak aroma is discreetly in the background.

Taste

The start on the tongue is very intense and clearly sweet. I hardly find any smoke and the alcohol tingles my tongue slightly. Then there is an overwhelming blend of sweet citrus fruits, ripe apples and peaches. This is accompanied by honey and vanilla. Then the taste becomes slightly bitter but still fruity (grapefruits?), The smoke now comes out stronger.

Finish

In the finish, the bitterness increases again quite a bit. But I can't find real oak notes - pure tannins are at work here. The citrus fruits and the smoke also linger on the finish and eventually even displace the tannins. Towards the end there is a little more pleasant vanilla.

With water:
The nose changes only a little, the mouthfeel becomes a little softer. The alcohol is better integrated on the tongue, the bitterness of the tannins is also slowed down a little. Unfortunately, the "fruit explosion" on the palate that I liked so much when I tried it for the first time is lost a little with water. A double-edged sword.
HammerHead scored this whisky 85 points
17 oct 2021 10:23 pm
The nose is easily the best part of this whisky. It drops off a bit on palate and finish which are very spicy and oaky. I expected better balance, but it's still a fine dram.

Nose

87 87

Mild smoke of toasted wood, mineral, very nutty, peanut (slightly salted), macadamia, almonds. Not much fruitiness initially, but adding water releases vanilla, yellow apple, lemon, some peach and lychee, also some more notes of smoked wood.

Taste

84 84

Initially this is pretty harsh, peppery and tannic, though some fruitiness starts shining through eventually. With water more vanilla, sweet oranges, bitter grapefruit, some peach and a nice note of honey. Still nutty and quite some pepper with spicy charred oak.

Finish

84 84

Medium length: bitter citrus, a short burst of peachy and honied fruitiness, then overpowering pepper, wood tannins and toasted oak.
Funtik scored this whisky 87 points
31 jul 2021 8:44 am
blacknapkins scored this whisky 88 points
25 mar 2021 9:49 am
Nose

88 88

Taste

88 88

Finish

87 87
Gous scored this whisky 87 points
21 mar 2021 12:37 am
Nose

87 87

Taste

87 87

Finish

86 86
PuddingmitHaut did not rate this whisky
18 sep 2020 4:15 am
Very pleasant, tastes good, alcohol is well integrated.

Nose

Nice malt note, vanilla, something like cereals are also included, gentle citrus fruitiness that also brings in a little freshness, everything is surrounded by slightly smoldering smoke, a bit of dusty oak, pear I will find later.

Taste

Relatively dry, but also here vanilla, light fruits, oat flakes, a slight hint of pepper, the smoke is always there, but never intrusive, but complements the aromas nicely.

Finish

When swallowed, the smoke is briefly scratchy and more dominant and then remains more present in the dry, spicy, slightly sweet finish.
Макс scored this whisky 89 points
29 aug 2020 3:01 pm
Nose

91 91

Taste

87 87

Finish

89 89
Mark-E scored this whisky 87 points
05 aug 2020 9:21 am
Sjaak92 scored this whisky 88 points
01 aug 2020 11:04 pm
sascuas scored this whisky 85 points
31 may 2020 11:19 pm
Nose

85 85

Taste

84 84

Finish

86 86
JNuyts scored this whisky 87 points
10 may 2020 8:44 pm
Nose

88 88

Taste

87 87

Finish

86 86
JNuyts scored this whisky 87 points
04 apr 2020 9:48 am
Tasted another batch (also 2017 I guess) and was much better than this one. You can't win them all...

Nose

85 85

Taste

85 85

Finish

83 83
Simo scored this whisky 87 points
27 dec 2019 9:39 pm
Nose

87 87

Taste

88 88

Finish

87 87
HokkaidoUni scored this whisky 87 points
24 dec 2019 6:06 am

Leather gloves, lanolin, some gasoline, rocks and citrus rind on the nose, maybe unripe plums, opens with water and with time to more sweetness, pear juice, some lemon drops and vanilla. Hot on the palate, bitter grass, car engine oil, and with water lanolin and vanilla. A long, slightly smoky finish with vanilla.
Calmar scored this whisky 89 points
01 sep 2019 12:04 pm
Very juicy and saturated whisky, the standard oak-grain picture is expanded due to peat, ash, a lot of shades and halftones, youth is obvious, but the balance and feeling of the whole product are already very good.

Nose

Open, dry, first nose - light peat and ash; freshly sawn boards, grain, malt, wood dust, sweet creamy notes, mineral shades - stone dust, plaster, grindstone;

Taste

Powerful, saturated, wood grain, malt, strong pepper wave, lemon peel, astringent mineral shades - mineral water with orange juice, ash; a little peat, charred branches, sweet creamy notes, a light bitterness of a young bark, homemade pastille.

Finish

Spicy, refreshing, wood-peat with a slight haze, mountain ash, bitter bitter, lemon peel, ash, mineral-metallic notes.
shootingforgold scored this whisky 89 points
29 aug 2019 7:50 pm

Having trouble rating this one, especially when comparing it to other rates on my list. For example: the Laphroaig basic 10 yr I rated 86 and is currently averaging about an 85 overall. To think that this guy, a cask strength uncolored gem of a whisky, is averaging just one point higher than a bargain bin watered down mass produced soulless dram.... I just can't fathom it.

Sure it's a little young, a little brash. Very hot spirited nose, but tons of depth on the palate with lots of lovely little flavor notes to discover. After giving a bottle enough time to open up (I took about a month to finish it off) I'm more than comfortable saying that this should be rated much much higher than it currently is.
Tom na Gruagaich scored this whisky 85 points
11 aug 2019 11:07 pm

Nice citrusy nose, clear, clean with some smoke.
In the mouth then properly thrust, slightly acidic and citrusy, with some smoke.
In the beginning the smoke makes itself clearly noticeable. Little sweet, rather harsh and rough.
But a cool part, young and wild. The Kilkerran 12 is sanded really smooth, if somehow a little better. But this is perhaps the more exciting in the long run.
davidloosli scored this whisky 85 points
03 aug 2019 9:23 pm
Very good for the young age

Nose

Cereal, vanilla, lemon drops, minerally, sea breeze, chalk, sweet pastries (lemon tarte), with water more lemons, meringue

Taste

sweet and sour, yuzu lemon, a bit peaty, earthy, ginger, with water sharper (pepper)

Finish

mineral, lemon, astringend, black tea, grapefruit, green apple
Ostap scored this whisky 89 points
23 jul 2019 8:47 pm
Gorgeous work! The beautiful style of Campbeltana in a masterful performance. For pleasure

Nose

It is tasty, with a bunch of nuances, a distinct representative of Campbeltana, salty smoked peat, malt, sweet candied fruits, herbs, mint or eucalyptus notes, citrus, mineral, cattle courtyard theme, husked lime, light strawberry-raspberry theme, sea iodinated salt, ground wood, vanilla, dust. Subsequently, pears and apples appear on the brackish background, salted cucumbers with tomatoes, salty fatty fish (salmon type), Cream of Inya cake (Bizé), white pepper, tincture on herbs and roots. The youth of a match in this case plays a plus, charges a fragrance, invigorates. He is very bright, intense, expressive.

Taste

Pepper, sweet, citrus, butter, candied again, mineral, delicate ash and fire, smoked fish.

Finish

Warming, not aggressive, knit, volumetric, oily, long, smoked-fish, light ash and smoke.
Whisky.Hedonist.MY scored this whisky 89 points
22 jul 2019 4:45 pm
Nose

92 92

Coastal nose on the front, not a bad start. A very naked Kilkerran, which is a good thing. Spicy vanilla on a grassy background. Clean and fresh, with sandy and mineral notes. Evolve into a fruitier nose after the first sip.

Taste

88 88

Lots of citrus fruits, along with earthy and salty notes. The saline notes you always get from Springbank is presence as well. Very enjoyable, but can be sharp on the palate if not careful.

Finish

87 87

Nutty, with slight hint of smokiness, lengthy saltiness. Finish is pretty long. Slight bitterness in the end.
Kaleva scored this whisky 81 points
06 mar 2019 12:17 pm
Very oak-driven whisky, young and punchy. The nose is rather light and pleasant, gently smoky. However, the palate is quite bitter and gives a lot of oak, too much on my taste. Overall impression - young whisky with good potential to develop. I think 2-3 more years would improve it significantly. But now I'm giving it over 8 mainly because of its nose.

Nose

Fresh, creamy, slightly smoky, with obvious minerality (wet chalk and earth), light maltiness, lemon zest, vanilla, boiled vegetables, green apple, sweet pastry, water opens honey and green pear notes

Taste

Very punchy even diluted, spicy (white pepper, ginger), oaky (bitter), malty, minerally, walnut, oatmeal, grapefruit zest, smoky/sooty notes

Finish

Rather long, very oaky, dry, malty, nutty, quite bitter with a hint of smoke
diamond2000 scored this whisky 88 points
05 mar 2019 2:00 am

Aroma: fresh, sea, alcoholic, wild honey flowers, fresh ginger, sea pebbles, algae iodine, menthol, peaty, smoke, juice and lemon peel, dried grain, spilled and dried beer, and again flowers, but something more like lilac and still very unusual scent of a damp cellar, with walls covered with lime.
Taste: malt, peat-honey, vanilla, small oak bitterness; just but nice.
Finish: malt, some smoked meats, hop fruit bitterness like in IPA beer, minerality, medium length.
Rating: 88
Bottom line: a decent representative of Cambeltown, at first a little spout in the aroma, due to its youth and strength, but after a while, having adapted, it does not strain. Taste and finish, of course, are simple because of their youth, but everything is very consistent and consistent and tasty. After such releases, there is a desire to look for and try something new from this distiller!
dandyman scored this whisky 84 points
04 feb 2019 3:49 pm

Initially not much happening without water on the nose, feels very closed and shy, only faint mineral peatsmoke notes with a bit of hay and cheese sticks (pastry).
Once you add water it really opens up, and it takes a lot. Cracked seahells, lemon, rocky beach, hay, a little peatsmoke, very refreshing and maritime, not complex but full on.
Flavourwise these aromas very much translate onto the palate, with a little more peppery/tangy notes evolving, it still feels youngish, but in the best possible way, quite a bruiser here without off notes and a very good balance, the finish is unexpectedly long and extensive, impressive.
Now I regret having sold off my closed bottle for cheap, as initially this was a let down for me.
LukasJakubDrabek did not rate this whisky
14 dec 2018 2:27 am

Ralfy review 659: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfznsjYnPWU (90/100).

"It tastes like an eight years old, it smells like an eight years old but it has the presence and the charisma and the character of a very well made eight year old."
PunxsutawneyPhil scored this whisky 89 points
25 oct 2018 11:10 pm
Right up my alley, so extremely enjoyable.
It's only problem, IMHO, is that the 12-yo is even better. Even at 46%. And I've tasted these two along side each other quite often.

Nose

89 89

Dark sugar, ripe red fruit, some mint, some ammonium chloride, fresh oak wood, dry hay, some grapes, earth, minerals, some faint tropical fruit (not as much as the 12-yo)

Taste

88 88

Begins slowly with sweet honey and hay, then the dark sugar coated red and yellow fruit come slamming in, riding on the alcohol waves. Again, there are earth notes, a lot of minerals, and some tropical fruit

Finish

89 89

Medium long, a bit drying, a bit bitter in the end. The fruits die off nicely. Some dark sugar and dark chocolate mixed with some earthy minerals die off along side it. Some mint tones in the end.
Mannix65 scored this whisky 87 points
29 sep 2018 11:15 pm
For his little age already very round and complex - very good value for money - play with water and give him time in the glass

Nose

A barbecue on the algigen beach, salty maritime air surrounds us and from somewhere also wet leaves - citrus notes and grapefruit accompany a clear minerality

Taste

Full-bodied and surprisingly round, medicinal and algg, sweet salted toffee and some dried hay

Finish

smoky, sweet of sugar beet - despite his youth, he is already pushing a lot of oak, which remains in the mouth and throat for a long time
Mannix65 scored this whisky 87 points
29 sep 2018 11:03 pm
Nose

86 86

Taste

87 87

Finish

87 87
Malinois scored this whisky 86 points
11 sep 2018 11:49 am
Masterclass Kilkerran Springbank 10/09/2018
Hazelburn 10yo (2017)
Kilkerran 12yo (2017)
-Kilkerran 8yo 56.2%
Springbank 12yo CS 56.2%
Springbank 18yo (2017)
Springbank 21yo (2017)
Springbank 25yo (2018)
Longrow 14yo 57.8%

Added a few drops of water in advance, this was a retasting.

Nose

Fresh, oily, yellow fruits, soft peat

Taste

Sweet, malted, more peat than in the nose, butterscotch

Finish

Peat goes quick away, yellow fruit, oily, some tannines
Dyno scored this whisky 87 points
10 jul 2018 7:26 pm
i've had this bottle for a while now and it's running low and as with many whiskies it only got better. i like it both neat and watered down, with a solid preference for the watered down version, cool thing is you can choose how you wish to drink it at the moment.

the finish is really fantastic now that it's opened up. i think i might like it a tad more then the 12, or my palate has evolved or i'd need to try them side by side for good measure...
- Nose
  
  86 86
- Taste
  
  86 86
- Finish
  
  89 89
dram-drinker scored this whisky 84 points
10 jun 2018 10:51 pm
- Nose
  
  84 84
- Taste
  
  85 85
- Finish
  
  83 83
dram-drinker scored this whisky 84 points
10 jun 2018 10:49 pm
You need to love seafood

Nose

Seabreeze, seaweed, salty, iodine, honeydew, hints of vanilla, little citric

Taste

Very oily, creamy, more seaweed, smoked fish, salty, a bit lemony

Finish

Medium long, warm
P.A.O.K.you_are scored this whisky 86 points
03 jun 2018 2:28 am
- Nose
  
  87 87
- Taste
  
  86 86
- Finish
  
  85 85
mema82 scored this whisky 87 points
21 apr 2018 2:49 am
Nose

87 87

Taste

88 88

Finish

87 87
Mascht scored this whisky 86 points
24 jan 2018 10:04 pm
tastes like a typical Springbank, but a bit scratchy

Nose

hot, vanilla, malt, citrus, fresh green apples, some smoke, fruit candies, some caramel

Taste

spicy, spicy, herbal drops, citrus, slightly scratchy

Finish

long with nice dirty flavors but also some sharpness and bitterness
kot1803 scored this whisky 83 points
11 jan 2018 7:08 pm
- Nose
  
  83 83
- Taste
  
  84 84
- Finish
  
  82 82
Pikehunter scored this whisky 88 points
06 jan 2018 11:39 pm
- Nose
  
  88 88
- Taste
  
  89 89
- Finish
  
  88 88
thatfamousgrouse scored this whisky 88 points
13 nov 2017 4:45 pm
Score: 88 (B+ if you must); Very nice, though it didn’t rock my world like the Work in Progress #7 (ex-bourbon cask strength) did.

Nose

Rich, floral, and grassy, with rich creamy vanilla, lemon, sour apple, and a tropical fruit funkiness. Smoky and medicinal backdrop and deep down, some nutella.

Taste

Full and fruity, with sour apple, some tropical fruits from before, lemon, and a little light nuttiness.

Finish

Grassy with pepper, vanilla, and a mild smoky backdrop. Long and dry.
lachaineduwhisky did not rate this whisky
27 oct 2017 11:44 am
An honest Kilkerran, well the absolute but a notch below the last traffic jams for me. Enthusiasm 3/5 Whisky n ° 1542

Nose

Peated malt. It's young: some ethereal notes. And also a farmer's side quite nice! Vanilla. Late roundness with butterscotch notes.
The farmer's side disappears unfortunately after adding water.

Taste

Malt, then green malt. Quite silky on the caramel. With water, more oily texture.

Finish

In line.
Andytka3 scored this whisky 86 points
05 oct 2017 2:40 am
N- Burning paper ashes from the peat smokes are well retained, with some milky tea arise before evolved to pungent grounded pepper, granite spice mortal, whiff of nutty and buttery. High strength are felt thru the layers of petro and off chlorine.

P- Quintessential of explosive young liquid, aggressive peat with firm heather, cocoa bitter sweet, creamy vanilla and layers of sour fruits. Rich, eye-watering strength and intensely spicy.

F- Medium-long, gum burning and jaw dropping, ripe exotic fruits, malty, be excites and immerse in the waves of lasting spiciness and chewy notes. Scents of raw white oak at the tail spoil the party.

— at The Whisky Bar, Kuala Lumpur.
- Nose
  
  87 87
- Taste
  
  88 88
- Finish
  
  87 87
Abadon05 scored this whisky 76 points
27 sep 2017 6:44 pm
Can not convince me unfortunately. Especially the departure is very disappointing, especially with the good start. Not much vanilla.

Nose

Grassy, vanilla and the liveliness of a lemon. Quite a bit smoke.

Taste

Salty, lemon, honey and vanilla. The smoke is now clearer, as well as the percentages are clearly felt.

Finish

Medium. Very medically and peaty. And iodine or a certain mineral note. In addition a lot of spice, reminds a lot of pepper. Finally, a lot of salt remains on the tongue.
rottendon scored this whisky 88 points
26 sep 2017 10:52 pm
A very tasty malt, which can offer a very good price / performance ratio and thus the expectations of Kilkerran not disappointed. For eight years he can convince, reminiscent of the Work in Progress series.

Nose

Lots of smoke ahead with fruitiness, citrus and mineral notes. Amazing amount of smoke for Kilkerran and even he does not kick right after pouring. Stability calms him down as expected, peaches dominate, vanilla becomes clear, the citrus notes are only marginally present, the smoke is slightly muted and it looks a bit more mineral. Some iodine and disinfectants are now found. Warmth brings back the citrus notes, lemon and grapefruit, more mineral and now also malt. The smoke is now very sooty.

Taste

Again, vanilla and lemon juice, plus the smoke from the nose. He occurs delayed but as expected vigorously, white pepper, clear tannins come from behind the oak. The mouthfeel is slightly oily. In the second sip comes a hefty load of honey Hinz, making it overall sweeter and therefore more balanced.

Finish

The finish is tannin and medium in length. The honey sweetness is only briefly carried into the finish before it dries out significantly. In the end, ash will remain on the tongue. He also warms the chest, but not as strong as expected.
St. Pauli scored this whisky 85 points
15 sep 2017 7:49 am
Obviously young and malty. It's well made, doesn't have any obvious flaws in the spirit. Though it's a tad young and therefore onedimensional.

Nose

Heavy, oily, and malty with quite some vanilla from the wood. Malt, dough, apple cake, engine oil, soil, a bit of earth and vanilla. A little citrus and mint.

Taste

More of the malty, heavy feel. It's full-bodied and sweet. Apple cake with raisins, again malt, honey, a trace of smoke, dirt, grease, and vanilla.

Finish

Still heavy, slightly peaty (dirty). The most pleasant part, as it is not overly malty, doughy and young. For the rest: vanilla and damp earth.
rpvdwel scored this whisky 86 points
01 sep 2017 9:18 pm
- Nose
  
  86 86
- Taste
  
  87 87
- Finish
  
  85 85
Savi scored this whisky 84 points
31 aug 2017 5:19 pm
Very complex for his age and despite moderate Faßinfluss long finish.

Nose

Very soft smoke, lots of grain, malt, caramel, heather, yeast, wet hay, clove and vanilla.

Taste

Very sweet and malty, honey, a slightly tart spiciness, some pepper and a hint of chocolate.

Finish

Some malt and smoke, herbaceous tart, yeast, pepper and clove flow in chocolate notes with a surprisingly long finish for his age.
Whiskywobbler scored this whisky 86 points
07 aug 2017 11:08 pm
I find that the smoke and bourbon cask influence overpower the distillery's character, which is a shame as we already experienced its quality.

http://www.whiskywobbles.nl/kilkerran-8-years-old-cask-strength/
- Nose
  
  85 85
- Taste
  
  86 86
- Finish
  
  85 85
Macheye scored this whisky 84 points
04 aug 2017 10:54 am
A tasty follow-up to last year’s official 12 year old bottling, but to my mind, not quite as successful. All the same elements are here, but their composition and balance just isn’t quite as elegant this time around. It's rare for me to say it, but in this instance I don't think the higher ABV has necessarily been helpful here. Likewise, the bourbon casks used seem to have been quite active, so whilst a quick maturation has been achieved, the balance between spirit and oak seems to favour the oak heavily in this instance. The problem is that there’s already been a number of fantastic Kilkerran releases and it becomes increasingly hard not to judge them by their own standards. Regardless, this is still a very tasty dram indeed which proudly displays its distillery character.

https://www.thedramble.com/tastings/glengyle/kilkerran-8-year-old-cask-strength/

Nose

The Glengyle spirit makes itself known right away – greasy, oily smoke with deep and pronounced malts and a sharp pang of citrus. Behind this I find real earthy and vegetal notes – forest mosses and wild mushrooms. Light honey, toffee, golden syrup and vanilla provide agreeable sweetness. The peating is as you’d expect from this region of Scotland - pungent, fuel-like and full of soot and machine oil. The malts are exceptionally pronounced here and with the evident sweetness going on elsewhere seem rather akin to some sugar dusted Weetabix - tasty! Adding water only brings out the sweeter notes further – I’m not if we need to do that frankly.

Taste

Some immediate presence and bite here from 56.2% ABV. A good mouthfeel, but not as oily and coating as I was expecting. Translation from nose to palate is excellent – more of the same malts and dirty peat. Grapefruits, peaches and sharp citrus combine nicely with a good whack of vanilla from the casks. Very malty and with the sweetness levels dialled down a touch from the nose. Quite steely and cold in places. The addition of water oddly seems to improve them mouthfeel making it slightly more vicious and chewy, but, expectedly, it reduces the immediacy and attack on the palate – Rather the double edged sword – you win some you lose some.

Finish

Short-medium in length and fairly biting when undiluted. Peppery with a hint of cinnamon and relatively drying in the mouth.
Avdboom scored this whisky 86 points
30 jul 2017 9:04 am
- Nose
  
  85 85
- Taste
  
  87 87
- Finish
  
  86 86
Whisky-Tester did not rate this whisky
25 jul 2017 7:07 pm
- Nose
  
  88 88
- Taste
  
  91 91
- Finish
  
  89 89
squaadgras scored this whisky 86 points
12 jul 2017 12:19 am
- Nose
  
  85 85
- Taste
  
  87 87
- Finish
  
  86 86
Shane_IL did not rate this whisky
03 jul 2017 9:46 pm
There was a lot of that Springbank (this one was very Springbanky) funk to this one, lots of chemical notes, lots of oil, lots of herbs. If you’re a fan of that kind of thing like I am, then this will be right up your alley. Really big, bold dram.Reviwed in my blog:https://iwriteaboutstuffilike.com/2017/07/01/kilkerran-8-cask-strength/

Nose

Gritty vanilla cream pie. Slight gunpowdery note to it. Lemon oil. Herbal honey, but more herbal. Fennel. Sage. Quite a dominant chemical smoke note. Nail varnish. Carbolic soap.

Taste

Creamy vanilla and a good kick of dirty, dusty notes. Quite dry with a very oily mouthfeel. Motor oil to be specific. Dried citrus peel. Dry grass left in the sun. More herbal honey, slightly more emphasis on the honey than the herbal now. Lingering woodspice and artificial cinnamon flavouring on the swallow.

Finish

Long. Artificial cinnamon and woodspice carries through along with some chemical smoke, honey and fennel. Liquorice pastilles. Slight coppery aftertaste.
Glen Positive scored this whisky 75 points
27 jun 2017 9:07 pm

really disappointed, being a fan of the 12yo and wip 4. this is really something else...

sour, acidic, young, sulphury, a weird cheap kind of peat...what are they trying to make here?
jankes scored this whisky 88 points
16 jun 2017 8:47 pm
- Nose
  
  86 86
- Taste
  
  89 89
- Finish
  
  88 88
Torfding scored this whisky 87 points
14 jun 2017 7:26 pm
As I feel so often with Kilkerran, whisky does not do so well when it lasts longer. So pour and do not wait too long!

Nose

Lemon glaze and yellow fruit (a little apple, a little pear), maybe rhubarb (I could not confirm the second sample), solvent / glue note, vanilla, cereals, a bit salty, rather light, a little more superficial dry and bitter smoke, maritime, comes slightly moist-mineral

Taste

comes first mild and very slightly prickling, but then becomes bitter, initially a bit thin and tame then comes the sweet mouth feeling; creamy or rather oily, peaty and salty, green apple, a little light chocolate with nuts is still added after some life

Finish

long, later rather medium; strong and dry, slightly metallic and a little oak, spice, vanilla, apple, somehow "dirty", light acidity like sparkling wine, a malty impression lingers even longer
WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 86 points
06 jun 2017 3:33 am

N: Lovely distillate with the majority of the action coming from its high strength. Generally it's big savoury>sweet, salty and somewhat farmy.
T: Lovely indeed and oozing flavour. Only small ppm >15 [im guessing], yet plenty of char.
F: Char smoke.
C: The strength carries this to a large extent, but it is marvellous all the same.Scores a B[-]
AH Whiskyvitrine scored this whisky 86 points
01 jun 2017 10:21 pm
- Nose
  
  85 85
- Taste
  
  85 85
- Finish
  
  86 86
Prodigy scored this whisky 83 points
27 may 2017 8:46 pm

Not a bad dram - but liked the 12-yo better.A bit rough and youngish
hs305 scored this whisky 87 points
25 may 2017 9:09 pm
[May, 2017] I had this dram at the Kilkerran masterclass tasting during the Campbeltown Whisky Festival today.

The colour is pale gold with a texture of late thin legs and no tears at all. The nose is on a vanilla-driven profile with some peaty aromas and hints of fruits. With some water added it gets more grassy and floral (haystacks). The mouthfeel is nicely coating for such a young whisky with some peppery moments. The taste is sweet, nutty and spicy (again vanilla), with water some chocolatey and toffee flavours are released. The finish is long and peppery that gets more sweet and mellow with water added.

All in all a surprisingly mature dram for an eight years old whisky that is almost chewable. I really like it...
- Nose
  
  88 88
- Taste
  
  87 87
- Finish
  
  89 89
theograph scored this whisky 89 points
22 may 2017 9:32 pm
Straight and unfussy - but edgy and (very) good!
2nd & 3rd Tasting: always like better: 89+ P.

Nose

A beautiful maritime note at the beginning (salt!), Followed by cereals or a malt note, lemon, pineapple and vanilla in the background, finally there is light smoke and a hint of oak; somewhere glue is sneaking around;

Taste

Strong start! Pepper-tingling and spicy, malty and bright fruits like green apple (sour) and then a sweet pineapple. Dry! Bread and biscuits come out.
With water generally less maritime and (much) fruity! But it is the pleasant and beautiful force a little lost!

Finish

Strong, powerful, spicy and long! Astringent, dry and a good dose of oak will stay there for a long time! Towards the end, a sour note of the green apple comes over again;
Archer scored this whisky 85 points
21 may 2017 9:15 pm
- Nose
  
  84 84
- Taste
  
  86 86
- Finish
  
  85 85
Hvdree scored this whisky 86 points
17 may 2017 10:16 pm
- Nose
  
  85 85
- Taste
  
  89 89
- Finish
  
  84 84
spigray scored this whisky 90 points
16 may 2017 12:47 pm
90/100
- Nose
  
  87 87
- Taste
  
  91 91
- Finish
  
  90 90
spigray scored this whisky 90 points
16 may 2017 12:45 pm
now, the nose disappointed a little but the rest is wonderful. you have to like straightforward, spirit driven whisky.

90/100

Nose

this is spirit driven stuff, slightly aggressive in the beginning. let´s give it some time: citric with a thin layer of smoke. faint whiffs of barley. wet gravel.with water: does not really change.

Taste

ahh, now we´re talking and I could have guessed that a kilkerran cannot disappoint completely.

comes with a big fat, oily attack with a wonderful fruitiness. lemons and mandarins. red currant candies. very fresh, mouthwatering stuff.

Finish

long and clean
Mingus scored this whisky 80 points
12 may 2017 5:22 pm

http://blogwwb.blogspot.fr/2017/05/kilkerran-8-ans-cask-strength-ob-562.html
irrerelevant scored this whisky 88 points
02 may 2017 9:35 pm
a little too pricy, but very nice, like those cool ex-bourbon WIPs, I really like those dry, slightly bitter nuts and this big and heavy mouthfeel ... incredible how much water it takes, this is campbeltown sirup

Nose

it's 8 years and cask strength, but no real trace of alcohol, artificial vanilla sugar (for baking), very heavy, oily, full of roasted brazil nuts, dry smoke, bitter and briny, there is some kind of light fruit (apple, pear)

with water: yep, takes it well, more bitterness, brazil nuts and peat smoke, less of that artificial vanilla sugar, more natural

Taste

smoke is more present here, huge amount of those brazil nuts, nice nutty sweetness, sugary, baking soda (!), Tresterbrand, very heavy, oily and big destillate, dries significantly, super briny, lemon peel, pepper, touch of licorice, blood oranges are developing over time ... there are similarities to the 12 yo

Finish

long, dry, bitter, smoke developing in the background, a little soapy, still very briny, orange zests
Pollenflug scored this whisky 88 points
30 apr 2017 2:39 pm
More on: https://tomtrinkt.de

Nose

At the beginning surprisingly introverted, after a few minutes the flavors crystallize more clearly. Vanilla, malt, biscuits, citrus and above all green apples are superior. In the background linger a pleasant smoky note and light maritime notes (salt). The more time the whisky gets in the glass, the more complex the interaction of the aromas becomes. The high alcohol content of 56.2% is discreet at first, but overall very gentle / pleasing and well integrated. Patience is rewarded here!

Taste

The alcohol pushes powerful, light pepperiness, malty notes, salt, vanilla and especially salt are my first impressions. Very oily and pleasant mouthfeel, with a few drops of water even gentler, almost creamy with a sourish tart towards grapefruit. Later slightly chocolaty with hints of exotic fruits and a subtle smokiness in the background.

Finish

Medium. Smoky with lemons and oranges, malt, a hint of vanilla and hints of spicy oak notes.
Andi_Whisky&Vinyl scored this whisky 91 points
30 apr 2017 12:22 pm
I can hardly remember that I once drank a "only" eight-year-old whisky in cask strength, but overall has been as complex and round as here at Kilkerran 8. Since I like the game with the cask strength is really fun, like he might even better me than the 12er.

My complete review: http://whiskyundvinyl.de/2017/04/24/kilkerran-8-jahre-cask-strength-whisky-review

Nose

For the young cask strength surprisingly mild, as far as the alcohol is concerned. Light apple notes, vanilla and marzipan. Reminiscent of cake dough. The typical light smoke that accompanies everything.

Taste

Here comes the cask strength to bear and accordingly the first start is quite full. But definitely not too much. Water can but does not have to. From the flavors it is quite malty and the oak comes through easily. Then I have a delicious milk chocolate and those light salt notes that I always find at Springbank.

Finish

It lasts quite well, not for an awfully long time, but such a smokey maltyness is pretty tasty.
KayMeertens scored this whisky 86 points
29 apr 2017 9:39 pm
Good, but I think I liked the WIP VII on bourbon (whick was in the same price category) better. Still have to compare them one-on-one.

Nose

Caramel, lime, malt and a little peat. Later mango, orange and perfume.

Taste

Malt, peat, lime, pepper and mango.

Finish

Peat, mango, caramel and malt.
Shinji scored this whisky 91 points
28 apr 2017 10:06 pm
- Nose
  
  90 90
- Taste
  
  93 93
- Finish
  
  93 93
MarcoWe65 did not rate this whisky
26 apr 2017 11:38 pm
- Nose
  
  90 90
- Taste
  
  89 89
- Finish
  
  91 91
whiskyinstitut scored this whisky 88 points
24 apr 2017 10:03 pm
Insanity painting for the price !! A Campbeltown prime example =)

Nose

Dry wood smoke, mineral, citrus apple notes jostle past, if you stay longer, the citrus sweetness is always stinging and dominant, with water he is super creamy, now come juice oranges, the wood smoke is completely gone

Taste

A lot of pressure from the alcohol, then directly the mineral and salty flavors, slightly bitter, but it is incredibly sour creamy with time, water brings here also oranges to the fore, as orange peel I would identify it here

Finish

The wood smoke comes through again, then now more citrus bitterness, water makes the finish creamy and less spicy
bert61nl did not rate this whisky
05 apr 2017 11:21 am

From the distillery:

Nose - The aroma from the lightly peated barley is apparent from the off and some of the green apples which are becoming a feature of Kilkerran are also present. This whisky is like a favourite dessert, rhubarb crumble, with scents of stewed rhubarb, vanilla and all butter shortbread.Palate - There’s an earthiness and saltiness, exactly what you want to taste in a Campbeltown dram. This is combined with icing sugar and puff candy which gives a sweetness to the whisky, along with milk chocolate and walnut flavours.Finish - The peat remains, along with a sootiness, pencil shavings and a liquorice-influenced maltiness.

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Whisky reviews for Kilkerran 08-year-old

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