Kilchoman Sanaig Cask Strength 2026 on Taste, New Dalmore & Fettercairn, The Glendronach – Nearly Done, New Raasay
31st October, 2026
Hello everyone
Happy Hallowe‘en!
I did say last time a Kilchoman sample was requested and, as ever, they haven‘t let me down. This is the Kilchoman Sanaig Cask Strength 2026. This one is a combination of both oloroso sherry hogshead finishes and fully matured casks. Is it worth a look? Yes! My notes are:
Appearance: Rich amber, varnished pine wood with tangerine highlights.
Nose: Initial sweetness with well-integrated peat smoke. Some raisin and dark chocolate. Richly roasted malt. With water, oily waves in the glass. Smoke is a bit softer. Some slightly resinous notes. Soft, sweet oak and honeycomb. Baked plum/damson. Very fragrant with ginger and allspice.
Palate: Rich, smoky, peaty, a dab of tar. Bonfire embers catching the throat. Coffee grounds and dark, bitter chocolate. Spice.
Finish: Long, smoky and peaty with tea-soaked raisin sweetness and coffee grounds. Cooling bonfire. Finishes drier.
As mentioned last time, it’s at 57.5% abv and costs around £75- £80 dependent on where you buy. It’s a cracking flavour for warming you up at Hallowe’en and, for those of us in the UK, Bonfire Night.
A note came in this last week about a new Dalmore expression. It’s The Dalmore 102 proof, Aged 12 Years. The info said, “this 
expression is initially matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels. The spirit is then enriched through a finishing period in Oloroso Sherry casks and bespoke casks from González Byass, created exclusively for The Dalmore. The journey culminates in bottling at 51% ABV”. Further on it says, “The spirit is matured for 10 years in American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels, developing sweetness and lift while preserving the malt and citrus character at the heart of The Dalmore. The whisky is then divided between Oloroso Sherry casks and our bespoke casks from González Byass, created exclusively for The Dalmore. The seasoning sherry is a unique assemblage of classic and aged Oloroso, combined with sweet Pedro Ximénez, carefully blended to complement and enhance our house style”. Now, The Dalmore has long been a favourite, due to my fondness for great sherry cask maturation/finishing. I wasn’t able to obtain a sample of this one but I’m willing to bet it’s worth trying. Cost is £90 from The Dalmore website but price may vary dependent on retailer.
There’s a new Fettercairn too called Ode to Water as the mountain water from The Cairngorms is so important to this single malt. but it’s a very limited edition (324 Bottles only) and has been offered first to Fettercairn Fanclub members. I’m giving their notes as this is such a limited offer, “Laid down on 29th June 2016, Ode to Water was matured in first fill ex-bourbon barrels before spending a further two years in hand selected first fill ex-bourbon barrels from Louisville, Kentucky. This limited edition release reveals notes of pineapple, mango and lychee alongside bright zesty citrus, vanilla and sweet oak”. Certainly pineapple is a note I’ve detected in a number of Fettercairn expressions. Strength is 47.5% abv, natural colour, no chill-filtration. I have enjoyed several Fettercairns before though not all expressions have been ones I would purchase by the bottle. Trying by the dram was fine. If you can get hold of any of Ode to Water the price is around £86.
Well, this was a birthday week for me and I wanted to go up and see how The Glendronach was getting on with all the works being done up there. It‘s still my favourite distillery in all the world. The place is still a building site in some areas but I did get to see the new washbacks and mash tun as well as the two new stills. I‘m delighted to say wood has been retained for the washbacks. I was told they’re also going for a longer fermentation time so it will be interesting to see what difference that makes. The new mash tun is stainless steel 
which makes for much easier cleaning and length of use - it’s a gleaming beauty right now as everything was polished up for the 200th anniversary open weekend a couple of months back. The Glen House, now renamed with its original name of Boynsmill House, was supposed to be ready in March but not there yet. Now looking at March 2027, I‘m told. I was concerned it was going to be made too glamorous and glossy but that‘s not what The Glendronach was ever about. It‘s understated – almost secret, couthy and homely and they‘re trying to keep that feel. The garden at the back of the house has been redesigned and landscaped so it’s no longer the produce and flower bed garden I remember. It’s very well done and wheelchair friendly, though still to be fully planted. It will be accessible to visitors for some select events and special tours. A distillery to put on your visit list for next year. There’s plenty else to do up there by way of castles and gardens too as well as beingnot a million miles from certain ski areas and some other distilleries. 
While there I tasted two drams - The Glendronach Ode to the Valley (no age statement) and The Glendronach Boynsmill House Edition, 200th Anniversary, a 14 year old, matured in “Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, and complemented by a select few casks which have previously held claret wine” . John the guide said many people seem to prefer the Ode to the Valley - which has been matured in ruby port casks as well as the house practice of top notch sherry wood - to the main 12 year old expression. It was very tasty but for me I‘ll stick with the 12. Of the two I tried, the 200th Anniversary one was a clear winner for me. Rachel Barrie has excelled herself here but then she seems to do that all the time!. There are still bottles available at the distillery for £85.
Lastly, there’s a new Isle of Raasay out – The Full Monti, having spent some time in amontillado sherry casks. I requested a sample and to my delight a full bottle arrived just this afternoon. An excellent end to my birthday week. I’ll do my own tasting note soon and post it next time. It was just a little too late for me to do it justice to fit into this column.
Till next time, happy dramming.
Slainte mhath,
Caroline
RSS