Whisky of the Year 2017
The Whisky Exchange Whisky of the Year tasting is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the whisky calendar. We ask a number of TWE staff to choose their favourite whiskies, which we whittle down to the most popular eight bottles. There are some rules, however. Each whisky must be:
- below £60
- not cask strength
- an ongoing release
- a Scottish single malt
We pour the whiskies, our customers taste them all – blind – and then vote for their favourite and runner-up. And this year, the winning whisky is Kilchoman Machir Bay 2016 – a delicious, fresh, fruity Islay single malt.
The Winner
Kilchoman
Machir Bay 2016
Named after the most spectacular beach on Islay, Machir Bay is the flagship of the Kilchoman range. It's aged in ex-bourbon barrels, which brings out vanilla and toffee sweetness, then finished in ex-oloroso sherry casks, adding fruit and spice. If you've never tried an Islay whisky before, you must give this one a go – it's fresh and fruity with a rich layer of wood smoke adding character and complexity. A deserved winner of The Whisky Exchange's Whisky of the Year.
Gift Pack
Kilchoman Machir Bay Gift Pack
2 Tasting Glasses
This special Kilchoman gift pack is the ideal way to enjoy a dram from Islay’s newest distillery. Featuring a bottle of 2016 Machir Bay – our Whisky of the Year – along with two branded Glencairn glasses, this is a great gift for lovers of Islay whisky.
Tasting Notes By Stuart Peskett
- Nose: Enticing aromas of wood smoke, barley and lemon oil. Clean and fruity, with richness in the form of vanilla custard and toffee.
- Palate: Whistle-clean, this is alive with zesty citrus fruit and aromatic peat with the balancing sweetness of vanilla fudge along with notes of apple and pear and a sprinkling of black pepper.
- Finish: The rich wood smoke is well balanced by the clean citrus notes.
- Comment: Lip smacking and refreshing, this is a delicious Islay single malt that is not only clean and fruity, but has the classic Islay peat character. A great introduction to Islay whisky.
The Range
About Kilchoman
Kilchoman (pronounced 'kil-HO-man') was established in Islay in 2005, with a mission to make Islay at the heart of everything it does. Its first single malt was released in 2009, and Kilchoman hasn't looked back, with a variety of whiskies that have impressed both critics and drinkers alike. It released its 100% Islay bottling in 2011, with every step of the process local to the island, while 2013 saw the launch of its sherry-cask-matured Loch Gorm.
Kilchoman was founded by Anthony Wills, who said he was 'delighted' that one of his whiskies has been named TWE Whisky of the Year. He said: 'Ten years ago, I never envisaged that we'd have such a demand and people commenting so favourably about our whisky. I thought it would take much longer!'
The Runner-up
Ben Nevis 10 Year Old
The Shortlist
See this year's Other Winners
More Whisky of the Year Winners
