Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured 2024: Bottled at 50% abv

Kilchoman brings back an old favourite in May 2024 – the ‘Sauternes Cask Matured’.

The Sauternes Cask Matured limited edition has spent its full maturation in ex-Sauternes wine casks, then bottled at 50% abv.

Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder, selected a combination of fresh and refill sauternes barriques from two separate years, the youngest being from 2018, creating the perfect balance of buttery sweetness, barbecued pineapple, candied ginger and floral peat smoke.

Tasting Notes for Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured 2024

Nose:  Creamy, buttery notes with ripe fruits, a hint of salty sea air and subtle peat smoke.
Palate: Butterscotch and floral notes combine with tropical and candied fruits with integrated peat smoke flowing throughout.
Finish: Sweetness continues onto the finish, balanced with clean lingering smoke and rich texture.

Sauternes maturation is a challenge, particularly full-term maturation, that’s why it’s so rare. Kilchoman’s first release of Sauternes Cask Matured, in 2016, was matured entirely in fresh (first fill) sauternes casks for five years. The second edition, released in 2018, was finished for five months in sauternes casks.

This time Anthony decided on a vatting of 22% fresh and 78% refill casks from two distillation years. This roughly 3:1 ratio of fresh and refill casks creates the perfect balance of sauternes influence and Kilchoman character. Most of the refill casks selected were previously used for the 2018 sauternes finish release. Using sauternes casks for finishing is the ideal preparation for full maturation, the shorter finishing period extracts the most intense sauternes influence, creating casks that develop plenty of sauternes character without losing structure or balance.

“After a six year absence, the Sauternes Cask Matured Kilchoman is back! The previous edition was a Sauternes finish, now it’s time for a return to the full power that complete maturation in these wine casks brings. Waves of sweet fruits and butterscotch balanced with our Islay peat smoke, a delicious dram,”
Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder.

Sauternes Cask Matured is available from Kilchoman stockists around the world from this week.