ralfy review 1042 - Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 9 59.2%vol:

[@puressenceuk35]

Campbeltown flying the flag for quality

[@VictorHundebll]

Now thats a coincidence. I just came back from a pub in Campbeltown where I ordered one glass of Kilkerran heavily peated and now I come home to find you have posted a new review off it. Can't wait to watch this

[@spykerf1545]

Ralfy - great video! Love, love, love Kilkerran Heavily Peated and Port Charlotte Heavily Peated. You mentioned my current fav - Kilchoman Sanaig. Cheers! The kitties are giving you some trouble.😁😁

[@marcwhiskey]

Always love the cat cameos

[@whompbiscuits8930]

It's like Ralfy is unintentionally bringing back the cat videos that made KZbin famous to begin with.

[@genekelly4985]

Ralfy’s cats are family, and they enhance the Bothy experience.

[@jonhillman]

My favourite cask strength whiskies (I have batch 8). I remember when I started my whisky journey and while I managed to get a Springbank 10, others were hard to come by. I knew nothing about Kilkerran at the time but got a 12 and 16 (and later the cask strength) and truly felt like I had stumbled upon gold!

[@russflynn]

I'm very happy to hear you're enjoying it! I picked up a bottle at The Whisky Shop in San Francisco earlier this year and I've yet to open it. I was looking for an excuse to do so. I think your positive review is reason enough for me; I'll crack it tonight!

[@Vortex1988]

I just picked up a bottle of batch 9 the other day. You can never go wrong with Glengyle/Springbank. A local shop had posted on social media that they had gotten a shipment of Springbank 10, 12, and 15 in. I had some time to drop by a couple of days later, and I figured all the Springbank would be gone. Luckily they had a couple bottles of the 10 left, and they had Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 9 sitting on the shelf too. They hadn't advertised that they had the Kilkerran in stock, and I can only assume that nobody made the Springbank/Glengyle connection because it looked like they hadn't been touched yet. I was quite pleased to walk out with a bottle of Springbank 10 and Killkerran Heavily Peated, despite walking into the store hoping they still had a Springbank 12 left.

[@Chaduar]

Listening to your advice has opened up a whole new world of integrity bottling . Thanks Ralfy , they are the future of whisky and all the distilleries that deliver will get my money

[@langbroekmd]

I poured a wee dram of my Batch 5 bottle to join you this evening. I totally agree that this, along with Longrow, are two Campbeltown peated whiskies that can stand tall amongst any Islay whiskies. I also love Kilchoman Sanaig. 👍

[@tomphalanx]

Kilkerran HP batch 9 was my first every Campbeltown dram a few months ago and it's fantastic! One of the best value drams ive ever had! I've since managed to secure myself a bottle each of Kilkerran HP Batch 10 and Springbank 10. They're currently on standby and I can't wait to crack them open!

[@ronaldbeerguy]

Great review Ralfy, I have a bottle each of about half of the batches to date and I enjoy them all. On a sidenote that last comment you made at the end of the video amps up my anticipation for my trip from my home in Western Canada out to Scotland coming up on September 15. I have distillery tours booked on Islay and then after that I am off to Campbelltown to visit Springbank for the Barley to bottle tour and the next day I am off to tour Glen Scotia for their warehouse experience. Also depending on when Springbank shuts down production for the season my tour will also take me next-door to Glengyle distillery. I am quite excited. 😃

[@Balkonwhisky]

I loved Kilkerran right from the Start with their "Work in Progress" Series in different Colours. So did i with their Peated Range later. Great Stuff always. Good i bought some before it becomes the real Springbank 1.2 in Prices.😅

[@ivanthetolerable]

It might be a bit late for the “Ralfy effect“ for Batch 9 here in Texas. I found it only in one store, and contrived to pick it up after an appointment out of town. The next day, I drove to another city after work for another chain’s biannual “dollar sale“ (originally was wholesale +$1 ) and found batch 10 had arrived a week earlier at a nearby store. I have been tasting them head to head, using at least twice the water I would put into a Speyside at that strength. Both batches are superior to batch 7. Batch 9 is quite farmy, a bit savory, with subtle layers of ginger, and perhaps even a wisp of spearmint, reminiscent oft Glentauchers, a subdued crème brûlée note from the ex bourbon barrel, and quite possibly an herbal note beyond hand-crumpled spearmint: for some reason I was reminded of nettle. Nothing appears to be out of balance. It is not overly sweet. It is not overly grain-forward. The peat-smoke does not dominate the other flavors, but is strongly present. There is no burnt fruitcake pan crust note like with Springbank/Benromach CS (the direct-fired mash still). But it is still quite funky, comparing well with an un-sherried Ballechin. I’m finding that batch 10 is less busy/complex. It is sweeter, simpler, and lacks much of the farmy funk of its predecessor. It has the same restrained smoke, but a bit less ginger. The spearmint note is present, but also a little more restrained, and doesn’t have that funky, savory, herbal background to compete with. It seemed to me as if the loss of some of that funk, also reduced the finish. I tried something I recall from maybe 2017-a suggestion on the cardboard tube of Glenfiddich Project XX: adding 4-5 grains of sea salt really pepped up the last sip in the glass of batch 10. There is the savory! I couldn’t even discern it in the predecessor, until the grains had disappeared. I count myself fortunate to be able to immediately try a malt that Ralfy liked and recommended this much.

[@majornut9728]

I tried this one on a fair, but feel I would like to have more time with it sitting sipping to truly enjoy it. Love the cats by the way, trying to steal the show 🤣

[@whompbiscuits8930]

Can't do wintergreen, I had a bad experience many years ago with dipping tobacco and still can't take the smell of it. Ugh. But on a lighter note, I loved it when Ralfy told the cat that it's not the boss of him, then 2 minutes later gave him a treat.😆

[@Ridabu]

I got this bottle on holiday in Warzaw and it blew me away. It could be one of my very favorites of all time. Went ahead and ordered two more bottles of batch 9 for my old age!

[@whiskyweekenddram]

Just finished batch 7. So I’m glad I can soon open batch 9! 🥃 and again I’m in for a treat. Will take your advice and try to let it sit with water for longer. Normally I like this without or only a few drops of water.

[@bn357]

I am an absolute fan of the Kilkerran 12. Need to get this one now…

[@WhoeverNevermind]

I poured a dram of this exact bottle to watch the review. It is nice to have high quality company while drinking high quality stuff. Salud!

[@SimonneNZ]

When Billy sat on the barrel and completely blocked Ralfy, hilarious! He's a big cat. Cheers Ralfy!

[@bryanabrams5916]

I was able to buy a couple bottles from a special order at Total Wine. I love this bottle! It reminds me of savory honey barbecue and creamy meringue.

[@jamessloanofficial]

Thanks for the heads up! I’ll stop by my local TW and see if they’ll order for me.

[@magnusfranzonuvebrant9519]

2 bottles ordered, I noted that the 10th edition is for sale as well.

[@adambrunner8468]

Excellent review. I was lucky to happen upon two bottles of the 9th batch a few months back. I enjoyed a few drams off the neck and was very impressed. Came back a few weeks later for another dram and loved it even more. Now about half way thru the bottle and the experience continues to develop. Appreciating it more with every pour. Please keep doing what you are doing. Your content is so informative and unmatched on this media. ...to you Ralfy *raises dram

[@andrewdoerr6823]

Hey Ralfy - Thanks for all of the exceptional content you create! First started my whisky adventure with Laphroaig 10 Year Old back in 2016. I've since broadened my adventuring to include the three Campbeltown distilleries among others. Your content has really helped me discover new distilleries and educated me on the nuance of enjoying whisky. Really appreciate it! - Andy

[@kirbycalgary2844]

Great review Ralphie quite a coincidence today. I just won a ballot in the batch 10 picking it up on Wednesday. I’m stoked to try it.

[@BraveClam]

I've just finished mine, what a fantastic bottle. It was an excellent recommendation from my local whisky sommelier, and it truly made me value his recommendations so much more.

[@christinecamley]

Superb video Ralfy! Thanks so much. I love this Kilkerran! Cats always boss us around!!

[@paintspot1509]

Batch 10 is a beauty. I would give it best value bottle of 2024.

[@richardarcher3254]

Glad you mentioned Bladnoch. Have enjoyed Bladnoch for a few years now and is one of my go to whiskeys.

[@88johnbarnes]

The whole kilkerran range are quality drams. I'm currently sipping their 8 year old sherry cask. I loved the batch 8 heavliy peated and I'm sure the batch 9 is the same. 👍🏾

[@danswank3378]

Thanks for the review. Wish I could find a bottle here in the United States

[@11thstalley96]

K&L Wines has the Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch #8 and #10 available, and they ship to several states.

[@scrimmy45]

I have tasted every KK HP bottling and have purchased every one of them. I currently have 7 different HP Batch releases in my ever growing cabinet of drams. It's excellent stuff.

[@anton7288]

Glad to see this reviewed. I have experienced an in-person review of KK HP at Bon Accord. As a highlight, it was a (rare) occasion when Ralfy has bought a dram to a Pat pal and not vice versa 😂 Thanks Ralfy 🍻

[@piotrledochowski5824]

That and lagg were my peated discoveries of 2023. That specific Kilkerran was delicious, farm peaty monster! Greetings from Poland!

[@DJMJRyder]

Bought the batch 4 and I was hooked, picked up every batch since. The trick with them is to split it into two 70cl bottles so they have lots of oxygen to interact with. After a few months the heat has disappeared completely and it becomes one of the best whiskies I've ever had

[@kebbergenoegvan3554]

It is hard to be disapointed, but luckily, I feel like I could live off the Springbank Distilleries and leave all the others behind.

[@geofre44]

Perfect timing as I just cracked open my Batch 9 just 2 weeks ago

[@rupertansell4662]

I have the batch 8, it’s wonderful whisky and it was sensibly priced 👍👍👍

[@Atthapong15]

The malts for their heavily peated range are sourced, Ralfy. Kilkerran remains my favorite brand and I have batches 4 and 10 .

[@robchesnutt]

I’m already on to batch 10! Tasty stuff. I always keep an eye out for this release

[@timthewhiskynut477]

Ralfy, they don't use the floor-malted barley from Springbank for the Kilkerran Heavily Peated, apart from the first batch. It's the only exception in the range - all other Kilkerrans do. The HP malt is brought in.

[@dksculpture]

Impossible to find in the Boston area now. That wasn’t the case just a few years ago. 😔

[@genekelly4985]

Likewise in Albany

[@dksculpture]

@@genekelly4985 Sorry man. It’s disappointing.

[@rfpho1456]

Haven’t opened my Kilkerran heavily peated yet! Look forward to comparing it with the NAS Longrow, which is worth every penny of the extremely reasonable asking price.

[@torbjornkarlsen]

Great stuff as usual Ralfy. Perhaps at some point you could talk a little about what you think is the reasoning behind Glengyle being a separate distillery and not just an expansion of Springbank, seen as they have got so many things in common?

[@PatrickDevos-n2i]

Ralfy, thank you once again for this very nice review. It summarizes very well all that is important in an expression to deliver the Scotch single malt at its very best. In my opinion I have found the same quality expressions in Single Malt Scotch Whisky Society bottlings. I wonder why they are not mentioned on your channel? Maybe I missed a past review that addressed this issue.

[@triktrak_1451]

I only have about 30 different Scotches in my collection so far (plus backups). And there's no junk, because I have chosen each bottle with care and research. But Kilkerran Heavily Peated is still one of the best single malts I own. Like you, Ralfy, I could wax on and on about its flavors and merits. A busy, busy malt... and such a delight.

[@riccardo5281]

What are some of the other favourites in your collection?

[@triktrak_1451]

@@riccardo5281 I really like the Glen Scotia Festival '23, the AnCnoc Rascan, the new 2024 Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured, and the Ledaig 10. What are yours?

[@riccardo5281]

@@triktrak_1451 I'm still in my first years of malt enthusiasm so nothing fancy. Glencadam 10 is one of my favourites, Laphroaig quarter cask and Ardbeg 10 for peat, and I really like The Gauldrons and Scarabus 10 as available independent bottles.

[@triktrak_1451]

@@riccardo5281 I'm still in my first years as well, so I haven't tried that many drams. Glencadam 10 is just a dream. If a friend asked me about a first Scotch to try, that would be my pick. Unfortunately it's sold out here in Chicagoland. I'm hoping not for long. I have still not bought my first Laphroig... but it's on my list.

[@Michael-m2l8b]

Great review again Could you do another series on anything new in Irish whiskey when you can please Thanks

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

This whisky really does vary quite a bit from batch to batch. Not necessarily good to bad, but just different

[@snakeman469]

I have enjoyed your vids for years. I have gained so must knowledge and enjoy many different whiskies than you. I'm glade you contune giving us great information on great whisky.

[@johnbradshaw7525]

Kilkerran is my go to Campbeltown distillery as you can't get Springbank 10yo these days.

[@michaelvalentiner8352]

Kilkerran is the future. It rivals the complexity of Springbank. Once the new bottling hall and the new maltings (hopefully) are in production, Kilkerran will be able to produce much more than Springbank. Having both is a beautiful thing.

[@escofies]

Kilkerran 8 in the glencairn tonight. Skål💥

[@Xminor79]

I’d love to know your thoughts on wolfburn 10. I’m very impressed with it!

[@colonelpercival2832]

Worth getting this or the standard 12? Cheers!

[@mitchsummers9192]

SPRINGBANK IS THE BEST DISTILLERY IN THE WORLD 🥃💫💫💫💫💫

[@konopamike]

I wish more Scotch Whisky were available to me, in the States we get very little options for Scotch whisky and it's a damn shame.

[@Doddo13]

Hi Ralfy. Awaiting your review on batch 10 soon. Thank you

[@MrCamel254]

I have this one open currently and i am still not so sure about this one. I like peat and campbeltown but this one has these overbearing light fruit notes and the finish is so dry that i cant shake the notion that i am drinking some kind of pear schnaps instead of a whiskey. Maybe i have to give it some more time to rest in the bottle.

[@Ronsat]

Billy knows Kilkerran is the Cats Meow!.....So do I

[@footloose20005]

The cat walking around on the table without knocking anything over, Absolute showoff

[@andrewjudd9001]

I might have an older bottling of Sanaig and it is good, but to me I still think Ardbeg 10 is the guardian of Islay.

[@shannonhowell141]

Awesome cat 😂😂😂😂

[@riccardo5281]

Arran 10 vs Quarter Cask? Which is the best dram?

[@drpapa26]

No, please don't be aware of Glengyle being Springbank 2. Otherwise it will also become too rare and hard to find :)

[@magnusalmen6168]

I bought this this summer in Sweden. Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 10 57,8 % vol. ?

[@jackwilson4284]

This stuff is fantastic value

[@darkmind9244]

the Channel needs more Billy! whisky marks 4/5 Billys lol

[@danf321]

I enjoy a dram of peated Whisky, especially on a cold blustery stormy night while sitting in front of a wood burning fireplace. But…I’ve sipped some peated Whisky that to me, are just way too smokey, and the delicious subtle sweet nuances that I enjoy, are lost. Am I a non-worthy Whisky drinker?

[@mr-yr1tp]

Are those wine glasses? Are they good for scotch?

[@yusufsayed1583]

Good Evening 😊 Awesome , Enjoy Your Pour🥃 Greetings From South Africa 🇿🇦

[@JarekZoglowek]

I love this cat....sorry Ralfy, but he is the real star of your chanel 😂. Btw. As always interesting review. Slainte

[@michaelwood3203]

I’ve just realized that I want to ask you if whisky is best enjoyed without food. If it is good as a partner with food I would be interested to hear your thoughts Ralfy, as to which foods go with which whisky?

[@escofies]

Bluecheese from st clemens on ryebread with Laphroaig.

[@triktrak_1451]

@@escofies yesss

[@ctowen5222]

Springbank 15 has gone from $110 to $175 in just one year in Kentucky. All of the Campbeltown whiskeys have gone up similarly. They’re good, but very overpriced.

[@ElieJobert-v2u]

I'm sorry Ralfy but sometimes, even if we have the knowledge, we have a guilty pleasure 😅 for me it is Diageo special release ^^

[@heavilypeted]

The Heavily Peated releases seem under the radar/ignored for the most part, I don’t get it. Batch 9 was phenomenal & batch 10 is shaping up as well. I’ll gladly take this over any Islay and the majority of Springbank releases for that matter

[@Heiko_C._Single-Barrel]

Billy ❤

[@mr2gordons940]

Ralfy, you frequently mention Scotch Whisky's reputation, I get the impression the industry has more than one reputation. My limited observations in the United States, most drinkers look at Scotch Whisky as an indicator of status, pure and simple. Most of those don't have the appreciation for nuance and quality that you seek, I'm not sure all of them even like it, but partake as part of the scene it sets. Among such people, the Scotch Whisky reputation is now and will remain sound. Much less so among those who consider themselves purists. As your videos invariably invoke, money is a key part of how the industry operates. Have you ever gone into the details of exactly how much of a given distillery's production is sold for blends in order to keep revenue flowing? I believe for example that you've identified that much of Caol Ila goes to blends and it is implied that without such sales they might not exist. Singling out the distilleries that score highest in your marks for their methods and products, how many of them have absolutely zero sales to blenders, and only bottle their own (maybe augmented by independent bottlers) for sale on the market?

[@KNURKonesur]

Kilchoman Sanaig? Not Port Charlotte 10?

[@WendellMacKinnon]

Well done, Ralfy! You've 'cat-a-pulted' me into looking for it to have a taste. (sorry :) )

[@robfut9954]

ANOTHER Springbank?! Can we set a limit per year, please? This is getting silly?

[@JonathanRL98]

What do you think about batch 10 guys?

[@colonelpercival2832]

Or batch 11!

[@samout321]

This is not very nice of you, Ralfy, spreading the information, that Kilkerran is part of Springbank portfolio 😀. Until now, it was rather available to buy, from now on it´ll be the same case as Springbank originals 😀. Great review anyway. Kilkerran 8yo sherry cask is also great, however I enjoyed way less the 8yo port, but it is just me, most likely.

[@johnburns3703]

only 35 years?

[@victorhanson1475]

oooh Ralphy......thou is wrong about Sanaig,,,,,,,,,Laphroaig 10 yo cs (even batch 16) is still the ruler of Islay.........

[@iansunderland7444]

twice a year and now small batch

[@goodnessgraciousitellya5004]

I’ve been a whiskey drinker for decades but I’ve never understood why one would add the amount of water to turn a 60%abv into a 40%abv, but then criticize corporations who do the very same thing when selling 80 proof bottles to the masses? Sincere question, by the way 🙏🏻 What is the difference? I believe you alluded to the answer in this video, Ralfy, but I don’t quite understand.

[@GlenLossie]

I don't think most people add that much water, certainly not enough to bring it down to 40% abv.

[@mezqaa9646]

The cat needs to wait until Ralphy gets drunk then he will go play in the field.

[@mosw5]

if chill-filtering really was relevant to the taste, people would not stress so much importance on this being mentioned on the bottle (it would be immediately clear tasting the product)

[@GlenLossie]

It is relevant and that is why they want the information on the label. If you paused a moment and gave it some thought you would realise that it is not possible to taste what is missing from chill-filtration.

[@mosw5]

@@GlenLossie it's my impression that (renouncement of) chill-filtration is for the whisky-enthusiasts what the gold-plugs are for the hifi-enthusiasts

[@GlenLossie]

@@mosw5 Not the same at all. One can choose to buy gold plugs instead of ordinary ones but if a distillery bottles a chill-filtered whisky bottled at 40-43% you literally cannot buy the same whisky at 46% and non-chill filtered. I may be wrong but somehow I sense that you don't really understand what chill filtering is all about. It might be worth your while to do a little reading.

[@MrDjcomeback]

Let me order mine before the price rockets

[@GlenLossie]

Or sells out!