Kilchoman Family Collection 18 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky 1st Edition

Kilchoman Family Collection 18 Year Old Ex-Bourbon Barrels is a mature Islay single malt from the inaugural 2026 Family Collection — eighteen years in ex-bourbon barrels, bottled at 50% ABV, non-chill filtered and natural colour.

Part of the first Family Collection, this expression comes from casks selected by the founding Wills family during their annual review of maturing stock. Made using heavily peated barley sourced from Port Ellen Maltings at approximately 50 ppm, extended aging in ex-bourbon barrels develops vanilla, honey, caramel, and ripe fruit around the smoky spirit, with citrus and oak spice keeping it in balance — a rounded, mature interpretation of Kilchoman's characteristic style.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Soft peat smoke, vanilla, and honey, followed by citrus, ripe fruit, caramel, and sweet malt.
Palate: Vanilla, honey, and fruit sweetness, balanced by citrus, smoky malt, pepper, and oak.
Finish: Long, with lingering peat smoke, vanilla, oak spice, and a light coastal note.

Specifications

Distillery: Kilchoman, Islay, Scotland
Style: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Family Collection 1st Edition, heavily peated)
Age: 18 Years
Casks: Ex-bourbon barrels (full maturation)
Malt: Port Ellen, ~50 ppm
ABV: 50% (100 proof), non-chill filtered, natural colour
Size: 700mL

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it peated?
Yes — heavily peated barley from Port Ellen Maltings at approximately 50 ppm (a malt specification before distillation).

What casks are used?
Ex-bourbon barrels for the full eighteen years, contributing vanilla, honey, caramel, and oak spice.

How does it differ from the 14 Year Old?
Both mature in ex-bourbon barrels, but the 18 uses Port Ellen malt at ~50 ppm, while the 14 uses farm-grown Rockside barley malted on-site at ~20 ppm, with different ages and strengths.