Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 02/2023 6 Year Old Blanc de Blanc Cask Finish Scotch Whisky 2016
Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 02/2023 6 Year Old Blanc de Blanc Cask Finish Scotch Whisky 2016 is a single-cask Islay single malt bottled at a natural 56.2% ABV cask strength: filled in November 2016, matured nearly six years in an ex-bourbon barrel, then finished 11 months in a Blanc de Blancs (Champagne-style white-wine) cask — one of the first Kilchoman maturations of its kind. With just 237 bottles from cask 1108/2016, it's available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 56.2% (112.4 proof), cask strength, non-chill filtered
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 6 years — filled 26.11.2016, bottled 10.07.2023; single cask 1108/2016, 237 bottles
- Casks: ex-bourbon barrel ~5 years 8 months, then 11 months in a Blanc de Blancs cask
- Origin: Kilchoman Distillery, Islay, Scotland — 50 ppm peated malt; imported by ImpEx Beverages
A Single Cask, A Wine-Cask First
Kilchoman, the farm distillery founded in 2005 by Anthony Wills, built its name on 100% Islay single malts. The ImpEx Cask Evolution series — the importer's single-cask program — picked this standout barrel for its 02/2023 edition, a wine-cask experiment that married Kilchoman's phenolic, farm-grown character with a Champagne-style white-wine finish. Single-cask, cask-strength, and gone when it's gone — browse the store's Kilchoman shelf or explore more single-cask Scotch whisky.
Tasting Notes
No brand-issued tasting notes exist for this single cask, so trust the cask: 50-ppm peated Islay malt (smoke, citrus, maritime salt) layered with 11 months of Blanc de Blancs influence — expect white-wine brightness, green apple, and chalky minerality woven through the peat. Non-chill filtered at full strength, so a drop of water is optional, not required.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a Glencairn at cask strength for the full arc, then a few drops of water to open the wine-cask fruit. This is a collector's single cask — sip it slowly and share it with someone who appreciates Islay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bottles of the Kilchoman ImpEx 02/2023 were made?
Just 237 bottles from single cask 1108/2016 — the "1,108 bottles" figure seen on some retail sites is a misread of the cask number.
What is a Blanc de Blancs cask finish?
The whisky finished 11 months in a cask that held Blanc de Blancs — a white wine made from white grapes, in the Champagne style — adding bright fruit and mineral character to Kilchoman's peat.
Is this cask strength?
Yes — 56.2% ABV straight from the cask, non-chill filtered, natural color.
One of 237 bottles from a single Islay cask — order Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 02/2023 online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.