Long time fan, really glad to see you are reviewing non age statement scotch, especially Kilchoman! One of my favorite distilleries and between the Sanaig and Machir Bay I have a hard time choosing! Thanks ralfy!
Hi Ralfy. Kilchoman will come of age this year - yes, founded in 2005, so it'll reach its majority of 18 years this year. Time certainly flies. As far as I can remember from my visit there back in 2017, the limited floor maltings are only meant for the small-scale "100% Islay" bottling from the core range and the peat levels are considerably lower than in other core range expressions. Otherwise, up till now they've procured malt from Port Ellen Maltings at the same peated level as Ardbeg malt. Now that Diageo are cutting off that supply to non-Diageo distilleries, I imagine they'll already have signed new contracts with alternative suppliers for the future. I think they just completed their expansion a year or two ago, doubling their capacity, but I'm not sure if that involves increasing the percentage of Kilchoman that they produce from their own maltings. Maybe someone else here can throw some light on that. Looking forward to the Sanaig review. And yes, at the end of my visit to the distillery we were taken into the small bottling hall at Kilchoman where bottling by hand (with minimal machinery) and labelling takes place. Cheers.
Love the Sanaig, looking forward to the review. I tried the kilchoman 16 which was the 2022 feis isle and it's the best 16 year old whisky I've ever tried
Looking forward to that Kilchoman review. I love their presentation. I do find it slightly confusing with all their different bottlings. Simple is sometimes the way to go. Like Ledaig
Well, well,well... Sanaig eh? I think your best move in 2022, regarding these infotainment vlogs, was the decision to start reviewing NAS bottles in 2023! The majority of my NAS stash are Kilchomans and righteously so! They range from very good to amazing. Sanaig has been one of my favorites, the price for value taken seriouly into account! An exotic, multilayered dram, a true joy in a glass! I have a sparring darts partner who's a serious peathead; whenever I pour him Sanaig, he always lets me win. Thanks Ralfy for another lovely extras! In anticipation, as every malt mate, of a thorough Sanaig review. Happy drams everybody!
haha love the cat. only had one kilchoman i contributed to a blind tasting, from a white wine barrel. it was one of the best of that evening. still have to try the sanaig. cheers ralfy, thanks for your work.
Ralfy! Good stuff, as always! One thing, though. The Ledaig is FINISHED in Rioja casks, rather than matured. At least that’s what my bottle tells me. Please, check yours.
Ralfy, Kilchoman does bottle everything at the distillery. Two bottling halls on Islay, one at Bruichladdich and one at Kilchoman. Pretty major error on your part, hope you can correct that in the review. Yes, they're bringing in malted barley for most of the expressions. But they grow their own barley, on their own farm, for the 100% Islay bottling - not even Springbank does that...
Kilchoman Machir Bay is my favorite of the two. But I like young feisty Islay whisky that's spirit driven. Not only is it true to the style, it just kicks more ass than Sanaig
I met two guys from Kilchoman many years ago. They held a tasting event in Sweden. Drove around in their Range Rover (I think it was). Fun lads. At that time I was not that far come in my whisky journey and thought not so much about their whiskies, but now after have tried the Sanaig, it is a completely different story. What a great whisky that is.
Went to the leeds whisky festival last Saturday . The best whisky I tasted was from the lakes distillery, infinity cask . I guess you could still call them a new distillery
I keep frantically checking back for the official Ralfy Torabhaig Review.. don’t worry didn’t wait - as per your directive - but … when oh when?! Seems the most promising distillery in forever! ✌🏻 😅
How could the SWA verify the ages of any mix of malts? Perhaps that is why they are all NAS and the youngest malt rule is still in force. Kindest regards dear Ralfy and thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. Ciao 👋 S.
Kilchoman Sanaig has batch variation in my opinion. I've double checked it with bottles from friends. Tonight its the first time I have Annadale in my glass. The level of savouryness is fascinating. Still young, but in a good way. Unripe mango.
Ledaig was my first big Single malt buy... Ledaig 7 years, loved it. It was cheap. Still a big memory. I loved the Amontillado Ledaig think 13 years that you recommended some years ago?
Hello Ralfy, thank you so much for this entertaining review and for fighting the good fight for a better whisky world. You are our William Wallace. Please never surrender. Cheers from a loyal pat pal and malt mate from Germany P.S. Long may King Ralfy rule❤
They do everything on site, but also buy in malt for the regular bottlings - the farm grown malt only goes into 100% Islay. But it's all bottled on site.
It would be great to know the exact numbers in the blend. Bardstown Bourbon Co does a good job of putting all that info on the label. So having an age statement isn’t as much of a big deal as knowing exactly what’s in the blend.
Hi Ralfy, I've recently tried a blended whisky called 'Glen Scanlan. You can get it here in Holland for about € 17 for a litre bottle and it's amazing. It's not owned by Diageo or any other big company that ruins good quality whisky but distilled and bottled under British government supervision and for a NAS whisky it's even smoother than Johnnie Walker Black Label for example. This really shows that quality whisky doesn't need to be expensive. Have you ever tried it ?
Hi Ralfy, you have already reviewed a Kilchoman, look at Review 457. 😅 But I'm really, really looking forward to the next Review. I like that Sanaig really much, especially the "dark" one from 2020 2021...Aktive casks? Greetings from Germany
Taxation issues are where they would get caught out. Whenever industry gets into a head butting match with government, government will use the bludgeon of taxation to win
I actually do see some problems. It would likely be different age compositions in each batch. There also need to be quite specific rules about how to disclose mix of ages. Would it be OK to write: "contains 20 YEARS OLD WHISKY" on the front, and then in a hard to read table on the back disclose that it is 1% 20 year old whisky. The youngest drop sets the age statement is in many ways a good rule, that actually stop potential disingenuous messaging. Sure rules could be set..... But it inevitably opens for some trouble as well. Just sayin'.
As much as I like to have as much information as possible, I have to say age statement is the least important to me. Of the 10 favorite whiskies I've tasted in the past few years I would guess only one or two had an age statement. With me flavor rules supreme and I don't really care how long the liquid has been aged. Looking forward to the Sanaig review. It's a fantastic whisky, always on the shelf. Cheers, malt mates, and as always... great job Ralfy!
Well, Kilchoman misses only one thing: age statement. But other then that: only independent distillery on Islay, every release is non-chillfiltered, every release has natural color, higher ABV (minimum 46%, there's no Kilchoman below 46%), own malt-floor using own barley from own farm, everything matured on site, every release is bottled on Islay at the distillery, exclusively for single malts (nothing goes into blends). Ticks all the boxes except age statement...
Human nature being what it is I would opine that the SWA distillers who are dragging their feet on NAS disclosures are the ones which would have to fess up to something like; “Distiller’s Choice Old Quality Reserve Edition blah blah “ Contents 95% 3 year old, 5% 12 year old. Price £55. Kerching!
First Kilchoman!! ??? No age statements. Wow! that's one good thing about you loosening your NAS rules. I have a 9 year bourbon matured single cask that's quite wonderful. I pulled the trigger on the overpriced Loch Gorm instead of a Sanaig. A fine sherried 46% peated malt.
So well said on the Ledaig/Tobermory thing, they do such good whiskies (aged statements (sometimes not), >46%, NCF), ...but then totally ruins it by not totally making it a perfect integrity! Distell REALLY needs to stop adding colour to their whiskies cause there's just to much noticeable "orange glow" in their bottles, hmm hmm, including Deanston!! . 😮💨🤬 In any case, with Ralfy can review Arran Cask Strength The Bothy next. 🤤
The SWA ARE the major distillers THEMSELVES - the SWA is a trade association, NOT a regulatory body. The argument being made here is that the distillers somehow won't let the distillers reform the system, when there is no impulse FOR reform to begin with. "Sorry, our hands are tied... but we tied them ourselves and support them being tied."
Ralfy, dont you think that destileries should put average year of the whisky instead of the youngest - or at least give that informaton in the footnote (like Ledaig 10 (small note: av. 14.5) ? Now 10y year whisky is not comparable with 10y form 4-5 years before - that could have 10,11,15,16y old whisky in 10y, today could be only 10y old whisky in 10y whisky. And the barrels - should it be clear how much time whisky spend in each barrel? Or you prefer that whisky should be kind of mystery, but in this case why bother giving information about caramel or chilfiltration? Full disclosure or none?
If a distillery can be transparent on their website, they should be allowed on the label. Feels like political hanky panky. Ralfy, I bet with your vocabulary and delivery you can smack a distillery advertiser and have them say thank you. Great video.
The more distilleries the merrier! Flooding the market with less expensive high end liquors will cause the Springbanks to have to lower their prices. Free market capitalism at work!
20 years in poor casks will always result in a poor whisky. Having an age statement on a bottle is no guarentee for quality, and should be treated with a degree of caution. Quite simply, If its good enough, its old enough
So, people give you "Monstrously mouthy but mediocre malt mentioning mumblepieces"? I guess they are just trying to be waxingly witty with wonderful words. They probably imagine your audience to be clamourously cackling and cracking in comickstruck convulsions while in fact everyone is corrosively cringeing or coldly cursing these classless clowns. Not that I ever would try to be witty with words ... never ... 😌😇 On the subject: There are probably a lot of old time-y ideas to be overcome! In whisky, it is pretty clear that you cannot fake good quality products. So, I guess the whole thing about secrecy is fairly irrelevant. And if your customers are so geeky that they want to know what goes in their drink - why do you not allow producers to disclose it? This is, by the way, also a reason why I do not really understand why in many distilleries you are not allowed to take fotos during a tour. There is no need to keep secrets - or at least there shouldn't be. However, these kinds of things are not limited to British industry! Stupid stuff happens everywhere.
![เปิดใจ "อาจารย์เบียร์ คนตื่นธรรม" อดีตเคยสุดทุกทาง ถ้าใช้หนี้หมดไปบวชแน่ l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IxeE0xVhy08/mqdefault.jpg)
Wow, you’re going to review Sanaig. Brilliant. Looking forward to listening to your findings. I hope we agree.
I’m not a cat fan but I love your cats cameos as special guest appearances
Kilchoman Sanaig has become one of my favorites in the last year! Every new bottling seems to get better and better. Bring on the review!
As always, a great Ralfy extra. I especially like the term "the full Springbank" for what distilleries should be doing.
new distillers get all "springbanky". lolololololol
I love you Man, you are so acurate and passionate, it's a pleasure to follow you !
Great vlog, Ralfy! Exactly why we never miss a Ralfy Review or Extra. One of a kind, you are. In the best of ways.
Long time fan, really glad to see you are reviewing non age statement scotch, especially Kilchoman! One of my favorite distilleries and between the Sanaig and Machir Bay I have a hard time choosing! Thanks ralfy!
Hi Ralfy. Kilchoman will come of age this year - yes, founded in 2005, so it'll reach its majority of 18 years this year. Time certainly flies. As far as I can remember from my visit there back in 2017, the limited floor maltings are only meant for the small-scale "100% Islay" bottling from the core range and the peat levels are considerably lower than in other core range expressions. Otherwise, up till now they've procured malt from Port Ellen Maltings at the same peated level as Ardbeg malt. Now that Diageo are cutting off that supply to non-Diageo distilleries, I imagine they'll already have signed new contracts with alternative suppliers for the future. I think they just completed their expansion a year or two ago, doubling their capacity, but I'm not sure if that involves increasing the percentage of Kilchoman that they produce from their own maltings. Maybe someone else here can throw some light on that. Looking forward to the Sanaig review. And yes, at the end of my visit to the distillery we were taken into the small bottling hall at Kilchoman where bottling by hand (with minimal machinery) and labelling takes place. Cheers.
. . . great comment, I will mention it in my next 'extras'.
Diageo... another reason to disdain the bastages.
When I was visiting Kilchoman a few years ago they bottled at the distillery.
Extras are always informative and with the curious cats 🐈 😻 🐈⬛️ 😀 it is even more entertaining
Love the Sanaig, looking forward to the review. I tried the kilchoman 16 which was the 2022 feis isle and it's the best 16 year old whisky I've ever tried
Looking forward to that Kilchoman review. I love their presentation. I do find it slightly confusing with all their different bottlings. Simple is sometimes the way to go. Like Ledaig
Well, well,well...
Sanaig eh?
I think your best move in 2022, regarding these infotainment vlogs, was the decision to start reviewing NAS bottles in 2023!
The majority of my NAS stash are Kilchomans and righteously so!
They range from very good to amazing.
Sanaig has been one of my favorites, the price for value taken seriouly into account!
An exotic, multilayered dram, a true joy in a glass!
I have a sparring darts partner who's a serious peathead; whenever I pour him Sanaig, he always lets me win.
Thanks Ralfy for another lovely extras!
In anticipation, as every malt mate, of a thorough Sanaig review. Happy drams everybody!
haha love the cat. only had one kilchoman i contributed to a blind tasting, from a white wine barrel. it was one of the best of that evening. still have to try the sanaig. cheers ralfy, thanks for your work.
Ralfy, its always such a pleasure to hear you speak with such sincerity. Its more than just reviews, its education. Thanks for your efforts.
Wet muddy paws 🐾. True love ❤
Thanks again for sharing your Knowledge and Opinion 😃👍
Ralfy! Good stuff, as always! One thing, though. The Ledaig is FINISHED in Rioja casks, rather than matured. At least that’s what my bottle tells me. Please, check yours.
Well. Love the Raasay. Pleasant and easy but not complex, just as you suggested. I am not a huge peat or smoke fan but this is just right for me.
Another banger Ralfy. Really looking forward to the Sanaig review, it’s one of my favs.
I applaud you for showcasing good NAS options, Ralfy. I love the Sanaig, can't wait for the review! 👍🥃
Ralfy, Kilchoman does bottle everything at the distillery. Two bottling halls on Islay, one at Bruichladdich and one at Kilchoman. Pretty major error on your part, hope you can correct that in the review.
Yes, they're bringing in malted barley for most of the expressions. But they grow their own barley, on their own farm, for the 100% Islay bottling - not even Springbank does that...
Love Fluffy! And as always, great sincere video.🥃
Kilchoman Machir Bay is my favorite of the two. But I like young feisty Islay whisky that's spirit driven. Not only is it true to the style, it just kicks more ass than Sanaig
I met two guys from Kilchoman many years ago. They held a tasting event in Sweden. Drove around in their Range Rover (I think it was). Fun lads. At that time I was not that far come in my whisky journey and thought not so much about their whiskies, but now after have tried the Sanaig, it is a completely different story. What a great whisky that is.
. . . review very soon on my channel.
Went to the leeds whisky festival last Saturday . The best whisky I tasted was from the lakes distillery, infinity cask . I guess you could still call them a new distillery
. . . yes still new.
I love ❤️ Fluffy😊
I keep frantically checking back for the official Ralfy Torabhaig Review.. don’t worry didn’t wait - as per your directive - but … when oh when?! Seems the most promising distillery in forever! ✌🏻 😅
How could the SWA verify the ages of any mix of malts? Perhaps that is why they are all NAS and the youngest malt rule is still in force. Kindest regards dear Ralfy and thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. Ciao 👋 S.
Kilchoman Sanaig has batch variation in my opinion. I've double checked it with bottles from friends. Tonight its the first time I have Annadale in my glass. The level of savouryness is fascinating. Still young, but in a good way. Unripe mango.
Ledaig was my first big Single malt buy... Ledaig 7 years, loved it. It was cheap. Still a big memory. I loved the Amontillado Ledaig think 13 years that you recommended some years ago?
Hello Ralfy, thank you so much for this entertaining review and for fighting the good fight for a better whisky world. You are our William Wallace. Please never surrender. Cheers from a loyal pat pal and malt mate from Germany
P.S.
Long may King Ralfy rule❤
I was under the impression that Kilchoman already does “the full Springbank”, they malt and bottle on site.
They do everything on site, but also buy in malt for the regular bottlings - the farm grown malt only goes into 100% Islay. But it's all bottled on site.
Great to see the NAS reviews again Ralfy!
Fluffy is chasing The Stags Through The Glens & The Heather~!!!
It would be great to know the exact numbers in the blend. Bardstown Bourbon Co does a good job of putting all that info on the label. So having an age statement isn’t as much of a big deal as knowing exactly what’s in the blend.
Hi Ralfy, I've recently tried a blended whisky called 'Glen Scanlan. You can get it here in Holland for about € 17 for a litre bottle and it's amazing. It's not owned by Diageo or any other big company that ruins good quality whisky but distilled and bottled under British government supervision and for a NAS whisky it's even smoother than Johnnie Walker Black Label for example. This really shows that quality whisky doesn't need to be expensive. Have you ever tried it ?
That's a massive amount of new Distilleries!
Hi Ralfy,
you have already reviewed a Kilchoman, look at Review 457. 😅
But I'm really, really looking forward to the next Review. I like that Sanaig really much, especially the "dark" one from 2020 2021...Aktive casks?
Greetings from Germany
Ralfy, review 76, 295 and 457 were Kilchoman
What if the distilleries all united and decided to form a new governing body, effectively ousting the SWA.. would that be legally possible ,?
Don't care if it "legal"...just do it😄
Taxation issues are where they would get caught out. Whenever industry gets into a head butting match with government, government will use the bludgeon of taxation to win
@@mmwosu like governments used tax to crush hemp yeh
. . .yes, but it won't happen.
I actually do see some problems. It would likely be different age compositions in each batch. There also need to be quite specific rules about how to disclose mix of ages. Would it be OK to write: "contains 20 YEARS OLD WHISKY" on the front, and then in a hard to read table on the back disclose that it is 1% 20 year old whisky.
The youngest drop sets the age statement is in many ways a good rule, that actually stop potential disingenuous messaging.
Sure rules could be set..... But it inevitably opens for some trouble as well. Just sayin'.
As much as I like to have as much information as possible, I have to say age statement is the least important to me. Of the 10 favorite whiskies I've tasted in the past few years I would guess only one or two had an age statement. With me flavor rules supreme and I don't really care how long the liquid has been aged. Looking forward to the Sanaig review. It's a fantastic whisky, always on the shelf. Cheers, malt mates, and as always... great job Ralfy!
Ralfy for SWA president!
. . . never 😨
Dang. I absolutely love the Sanaig. Better stock up before your review hits and people get wise.
Well, Kilchoman misses only one thing: age statement.
But other then that: only independent distillery on Islay, every release is non-chillfiltered, every release has natural color, higher ABV (minimum 46%, there's no Kilchoman below 46%), own malt-floor using own barley from own farm, everything matured on site, every release is bottled on Islay at the distillery, exclusively for single malts (nothing goes into blends).
Ticks all the boxes except age statement...
I totally agree with you here Ralfy!
Btw new distilleries: Any thoughts on Glasgow distillery?
As usual one can only agree with you: more transparency around Whisky is always better
glad u came off your high horse😂🎉
I think you did a Kilchoman in review 457.
Introducing us to Fluffy like we haven’t been friends for ever…
ralfy - you are our elder world class, keep it coming, please just for us who'd been your loyal follower for so long.
Good stuff as per usual ralfy😘
Hemp makes the best ethanol btw.
Literally 🚀 rocket fuel ⛽️
Human nature being what it is I would opine that the SWA distillers who are dragging their feet on NAS disclosures are the ones which would have to fess up to something like; “Distiller’s Choice Old Quality Reserve Edition blah blah “ Contents 95% 3 year old, 5% 12 year old. Price £55. Kerching!
Since peat is somewhat rough itself, it can conceal the youth of whisky. Something that would be way more apparent in unpeated releases
Compass Box give the age of each of the component malts in their blends.
I Love some NAS But you Never wanted to taste NAS!!!
NAS is commonly becoming a stamp of quality for me. NAS liberates the distillery to provide consistent quality.
First Kilchoman!! ??? No age statements. Wow! that's one good thing about you loosening your NAS rules.
I have a 9 year bourbon matured single cask that's quite wonderful. I pulled the trigger on the overpriced Loch Gorm instead of a Sanaig. A fine sherried 46% peated malt.
Mount of mulberry seeking maladjusted malt monstrosities :P
So well said on the Ledaig/Tobermory thing, they do such good whiskies (aged statements (sometimes not), >46%, NCF), ...but then totally ruins it by not totally making it a perfect integrity! Distell REALLY needs to stop adding colour to their whiskies cause there's just to much noticeable "orange glow" in their bottles, hmm hmm, including Deanston!! . 😮💨🤬
In any case, with Ralfy can review Arran Cask Strength The Bothy next. 🤤
It seems all good and interesting TH-camrs have cats. 🐈🐈⬛
Will you be doing a review on any of Wolfburns bottlings Ralfy?
. . . yes.
Certainly not your first Kilchoman review. You've done a few.
Since you are now reviewing NAS peated scotch, can we get an Ardbeg an oa review??
I thought kilchoman really do bottle themselves though? You sure mate?
. . . still waiting for confirmation from the distillery.
Cats *are* cats and Fluffy is the best. 👏👏👏👏👏
Hello Ralfy, When do you review Torabhaig? Please, let me know. 😉
Muddy paws!!!! ❤❤❤
A message to all the new and potential distilleries out there: we need more choices with "Glen" in the name. Just aren't enough. 🤣
Keep an eye out for the Glen Ralfy distillery!
@@DavidUKesb 😆...👍👏🤙
Malt mention: Magnetically mellow malt measurers
The SWA ARE the major distillers THEMSELVES - the SWA is a trade association, NOT a regulatory body. The argument being made here is that the distillers somehow won't let the distillers reform the system, when there is no impulse FOR reform to begin with. "Sorry, our hands are tied... but we tied them ourselves and support them being tied."
Ralfy, dont you think that destileries should put average year of the whisky instead of the youngest - or at least give that informaton in the footnote (like Ledaig 10 (small note: av. 14.5) ? Now 10y year whisky is not comparable with 10y form 4-5 years before - that could have 10,11,15,16y old whisky in 10y, today could be only 10y old whisky in 10y whisky. And the barrels - should it be clear how much time whisky spend in each barrel? Or you prefer that whisky should be kind of mystery, but in this case why bother giving information about caramel or chilfiltration? Full disclosure or none?
. . . no, FULL disclosure only.
no subtitles yet, can you check?
👍
Ralfy; please, please, please don’t review the Kilchoman, it will only drive up the price.
Can you do a review of Lindores Abbey whisky?
Hi Ralphie, can you have subtitles, thanks!
I can think of 6 distillery that I'm involved in project wise that are investing in the coming 18 months ,
If a distillery can be transparent on their website, they should be allowed on the label. Feels like political hanky panky.
Ralfy, I bet with your vocabulary and delivery you can smack a distillery advertiser and have them say thank you. Great video.
anoraks unite!!!!!!!!
For me , there is not enough information on every whisky bottle I bought in my life.
Ralfy... aren't you due a new logo?
Kilchoman for the win!
I probably should watch the video first...
Ralfy ... bitte mach zu deinem 1000. Video irgendetwas, was niemand erwartet - irgendwas Schönes ... vielen Dank!!! :)
New Malt Mention: Malty mismalticious maltingfloorists
Perfect encapsulation of cats right there lol - please give me attention 🥺...
don't touch me 😡
Why do we STILL not have a Kilchoman 10 y.o?
The whole world could use a lot more transparency right now...
The more distilleries the merrier! Flooding the market with less expensive high end liquors will cause the Springbanks to have to lower their prices. Free market capitalism at work!
Have you tasted the new 4 year old GlenAllachie?
You're a few month late on that one.
. . . no, too expensive.
TH-cam doesn't want to upload subtitles!!!
. . . they do now 😊👍
Thanks 🥃hi i just poured a dram Clynelish 23y 😉
Where is this week's review?
@@680817 . . . . here. th-cam.com/video/3Vb35iUuL2U/w-d-xo.html
20 years in poor casks will always result in a poor whisky. Having an age statement on a bottle is no guarentee for quality, and should be treated with a degree of caution. Quite simply, If its good enough, its old enough
So, people give you "Monstrously mouthy but mediocre malt mentioning mumblepieces"? I guess they are just trying to be waxingly witty with wonderful words. They probably imagine your audience to be clamourously cackling and cracking in comickstruck convulsions while in fact everyone is corrosively cringeing or coldly cursing these classless clowns.
Not that I ever would try to be witty with words ... never ... 😌😇
On the subject: There are probably a lot of old time-y ideas to be overcome! In whisky, it is pretty clear that you cannot fake good quality products. So, I guess the whole thing about secrecy is fairly irrelevant. And if your customers are so geeky that they want to know what goes in their drink - why do you not allow producers to disclose it?
This is, by the way, also a reason why I do not really understand why in many distilleries you are not allowed to take fotos during a tour. There is no need to keep secrets - or at least there shouldn't be. However, these kinds of things are not limited to British industry! Stupid stuff happens everywhere.