Glengyle Distillery Kilkerran 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml

Product Information:

The Kilkerran 12 year old provides a fitting introduction to the Kilkerran range. Approachable, lightly peated and bottled at their standard bottling strength of 46% ABV, there are characteristic citrus notes and an oiliness on the palate. Matured in 70% Bourbon and 30% Sherry casks. Enticing aromas of sweet confectionery to this dram, turkish delight, pear drop and subtle peat smoke. Palate introduces citrus notes of lemon cheesecake, leather, spice and that signature oilyness of a Campbeltown whisky. There's peat smoke in the finish carries on for ages, with hints of pecan pie and butterscotch.

Item does not come with external tube. Producer Note: “It is our intention to reduce the amount of packaging we use across our group of companies, from Springbank and Kilkerran to William Cadenhead Ltd, and that any we do use is produced and procured as sustainably as possible."

Maker:

A historic Campbeltown distillery reimagined in the 21st century, Glengyle Distillery was originally founded by William Mitchell, who had previously run Springbank Distillery with his brother John, under the direction of their father and founder of Springbank, Archibald Mitchell. A dispute between the two brothers, William and John, led the former to leave and start his own venture, Glengyle Distillery, in 1872. In 1919, Glengyle was sold to West Highland Malt Distilleries Ltd after suffering, as many distilleries did, from the economic downturn of the early 20th century. Production then completely ceased in 1925. Over the decades-long closure of the distillery, the buildings continued to be used by local clubs and companies and so the Glengyle buildings remained reasonably well-maintained compared to many other closed distilleries in Campbeltown.

In the year 2000, the distillery was purchased by Mitchell’s Glengyle Ltd, headed by Hedley G Wright, then chairman of J&A Mitchell and great, great nephew of the original founder of Glengyle, William Mitchell. After his passing in 2023, Mr Wright’s shares in the company were transferred to three local trust funds to ensure that the community would continue to benefit from the company after his passing.

Distillery:

The Campbelltown region is located on the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland's south-west, and was once home to over 30 malt whisky distilleries. One of Scotland’s five whiskey regions (one of our favourites) Campbelltown was a bustling fishing village and dubbed ‘whisky capital of the world’ for good reason, in times past the sails of vessels could be seen billowing in Campbeltown Loch, while rippling smoke from the chimneys of distilleries filled the sky.

Looking back, Campbeltown is unequivocally as big a part of the history of whisky as the famous drink itself. Used as a smuggling centre for the most part of the 17th and 18th century, where many a bottle of Scotland’s famous liquid was distilled illegally. Once home to over 30 distilleries, Campbeltown gained a reputation for delivering top shelf whisky in the 19th century, something that saw an increased demand from blenders. Much of Campbeltown’s whisky heritage is owed to its location – easy access by boat and being just a whisker away from Ireland.

Today only three remain, Glen Scotia, Springbank and Glengyle. Of the three Springbank and Glengyle both play pivotal roles in the production of Kilkerran. From the traditional floor maltings conducted at Kilkerran's sister distillery, Springbank, to the distillation and bottling of every edition at Glengyle. Stylistically Kilkerran today is a far cry from the more heavily peated style of the original Glengyle distillery. Regardless it is in many ways a classic Campbelltown, high drinkable with complex maritime notes, light salt and delicate peat that tends towards more earthy aromas. 

Nose - Turkish Delight, Pear Drop, Campfire
Sweet confectionery introduce this dram, with turkish delight, pear drops and marzipan apparent on the nose. There are hints of subtle peat smoke, like toasted marshmallows by a campfire.

Palate - Citrus, Leather, Pepper
Palate Initially zesty with citrus notes of lemon cheesecake and an oiliness typical of a Campbeltown whisky. Peat smoke, leather bound books and peppery, spicy notes develop.

Finish - Peat Smoke, Embers, Butterscotch
The peat smoke carries through to the finish in campfire embers, with sweet hints of pecan pie and butterscotch.

The Finer Details
Style - Scotch Whisky
Country - Scotland
Region - Campbeltown
Bottle Size - 700ml
ABV - 46%