Kilchoman with Anthony Wills
A masterclass tasting through the Kilchoman range from their first release to their latest
Anthony is down in London today for a whisky tasting at @WhiskyExchange shop at Vinopolis- Almost time for our #twetasting - whiskies from @kilchoman05 with distillery boss Anthony Wills. Any fans out there? twitpic.com/a0h8du
@WhiskyExchange @kilchoman05 Yup, absolutely love their whisky, missed out on the Sherry Cask Release, so 2006 vintage all the way.
#twetasting Anthony moved from wine to be an independent bottler. When buying good casks got harder he decided to build @Kilchoman05.
Anthony Wills gives a brilliant story about opening a new distillery - 7 years in, £5m so far. Passionate about wood policy. #TWEtasting
Fascinating insight into distillery as startup - entirely different challenge: complexity, competition, no quick investor return #twetasting- #twetasting An open distillery is more compelling than a paper business plan which helped get more investment once @Kilchoman05 was running.
- #twetasting The spirit is made to be fruity, clean, and work well young after maturing in Buffalo Trace bourbon & Miguel Martin sherry casks
- Things you learn when you open a homegrown distillery: the art of growing and malting barley. Bloody hard work! #twetasting
- #twetasting @Kilchoman05 produce some of their own malt - has taken years to get right. Also using local peat.
- Enjoyed the ongoing "learning by experience" theme here... including blowing the roof off the kiln! #TWEtasting
Whisky #1 - 100% Islay
- #twetasting Whisky #1 - 100% Islay. Using @Kilchoman05's own malt peated to ~20ppm. About 3yrs old. twitpic.com/a0hkbx
- 1st whisky is @Kilchoman05 100% Islay - I always get ginger biscuits in this one, tonight with digestives too! #TWEtasting
- #twetasting The plan is to release one @Kilchoman05 100% Islay bottling a year - next in September 2012. Always at 50%.
- #twetasting Other @Kilchoman05 whiskies use malt from Port Ellen maltings, peated to ~50ppm (same levels as Ardbeg)
Whisky #2 - Machir Bay
- #twetasting Whisky #2 - Machir Bay. Ongoing production whisky. One new vatting a year. 2012 has some oloroso finished whisky in the mix.
@WhiskyExchange An excellent whisky this. Tried it at this year's Feis. Great value for money too.- Whisky 2 is Machir Bay: sweeter and peatier, and the nose shows through some of the vibrancy of this youthful spirit. #TWEtasting
