Cognac Cask Matured

While many distilleries use Cognac casks to finish their whisky, Kilchoman goes further. This release has spent the full-term of its maturation in ex-Cognac barriques, allowing the French oak to fully express itself. The 2026 edition is a combination of 33 first-fill barriques, distilled in 2019, bottled at 50% abv. The result is a marriage of toasted nuts, warming spices, honeycomb sweetness and luscious stone fruit, which balance beautifully with Kilchoman’s distinctive peat smoke and bright citrus character.

“Full-term maturation in first-fill experimental casks is risky; we need to monitor the maturation very closely. The aim is to maximise flavour, both from the cask and from the spirit. The Cognac casks bring an abundance of flavour but left too long and they would overwhelm the Kilchoman spirit. The casks work to their own schedule, and we need to be ready to bottle when the balance is right”