A Scot on Scotch review a work-in-progress Kilkerran single malt from Glengyle Distillery in Campbeltown.
The Glengyle Distillery
The Campbeltown-based Glengyle distillery has been producing single malt whisky following decades of silence and the first-ever 12-year-old malt is due to be unveiled later this year.
Glengyle was originally founded in 1872 by William Mitchell, the nephew of Archibald Mitchell, founder of Springbank Distillery. The Mitchell family sold Glengyle in 1919 but it didn’t survive for very long under new ownership and closed down in 1925 in the midst of a massive industry downturn.
Campbeltown, originally known as Kinlochkilkerran, was a fishing town with a shipyard, a coal mine and both steamship and rail services to Glasgow. It also had access to plenty of barley and peat, making it the perfect place to make whisky. The Duke of Argyll encouraged the production of whisky, following the Excise Act of 1823. He commanded that Crosshill Loch be converted into a reservoir in order to supply an adequate water source. In total, 29 distilleries opened between 1823 and 1844. When Alfred Barnard visited in 1885 he dubbed the town Whisky City. The good times wouldn’t last, however. A number of contributing factors combined to cause a catastrophic collapse of the industry.
Changing tastes and the arrival of the Strathspey Railway in the North East raised the profile of the Glenlivet malts and the introduction of prohibition in the US brought Campbeltown’s trade with North America shuddering to a halt. The town’s distillers were already stumbling when the local coal mine closed in 1923. The result was a significant increase in fuel costs and that was the final straw. At one time there were more than 30 operational distilleries in the town but by 1935, only two remained, Springbank and Glen Scotia.
Glengyle lay dormant for decades until the distillery was bought by Springbank owners J & A Mitchell in 2000. After a complete renovation, pot stills were sourced from the old Ben Wyvis distillery in Invergordon and production of a new Glengyle malt began in 2004.
This rebirth of Glengyle, coupled with recent investment in Glen Scotia and the continuing success of Springbank, points to a resurgence in the fortunes of the once thriving whisky city.
Kilkerran W.I.P. Vol 6 Review
Since the rights to the Glengyle name are held by a rival, J & A Mitchell have released their new single malt under Kilkerran. As the spirit matures, the company has been releasing annual Work-in-Progress expressions, giving eager connoisseurs a sneak peek at the future of the new malt. Bottled at 46% and matured in European Oak Sherry Casks, Kilkerran Work in Progress Volume 6 is available in the UK for around £45.
Smell: Sherry on the nose with raisins and sultanas, orange zest and dark chocolate. Subtle wisps of smoke with a wee touch of struck match.
Taste: Orange liqueur, cranberry juice and raisins. Coastal brine and some subtle smoke on the finish.
Thoughts: The malt is young and a wee bit feisty but you can see its quality. The sherry is bold and even though it doesn’t quite sit in perfect harmony with the spirit as yet, you get the sense that it’s on the way to being something rather special. Watch out for sherry matured Kilkerran in future!
A fascinating glimpse at the development of a brand new single malt that leaves me waiting impatiently for the arrival, later this year, of the first 12-year-old.
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For more on Glengyle Distillery and Kilkerran Single Malt…
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