The Kilkerran Distillery, whose single malt whisky is produced at the Glengyle Distillery in Campbeltown, Scotland, has a long and eventful history. The original Glengyle Distillery was founded in 1872 by William Mitchell.
After several changes in ownership and a long period of closure, the distillery was acquired in 2000 by J&A Mitchell, the owner of Springbank, and reopened in 2004. The name "Kilkerran" was chosen because the name "Glengyle" was already used for a blended whisky.
Kilkerran is known for its lightly peated single malts, which are bottled without chill filtration. The first release of a Kilkerran single malt was a three-year-old whisky in 2007. Starting in 2009, annual “Work-in-Progress” releases followed, each one year older than the previous one. This series ended in 2015. In 2016, the first permanent 12-year-old bottling was launched. This whisky is aged in 70% ex-bourbon casks and 30% ex-sherry casks, giving it a balanced flavor profile.
Among the most famous releases, in addition to the 12-year-old Kilkerran, are limited editions such as the Kilkerran 8-Year-Old Cask Strength and the Kilkerran Heavily Peated. The 8-year-old is released annually in cask strength and offers a more intense tasting experience. The Heavily Peated series stands out for its high peat content and is especially popular with lovers of smoky whiskies.
The Glengyle Distillery produces Kilkerran for only about three months a year, as it shares production time with the nearby Springbank Distillery. This allows for careful and detailed production, with all steps from malting to bottling being carried out on site in Campbeltown.
Kilkerran whiskies are characterized by a light smokiness and complex aromas, ranging from fruity notes to vanilla and honey. This unique combination has earned Kilkerran a prominent place among esteemed Scottish single malts.
