Kilchoman Distillery has unveiled the first edition of its new Family Collection, an exclusive series of four age-statement single malts personally selected by the five members of the founding Wills family. The collection celebrates the evolution of Kilchoman’s spirit over the past two decades and includes the oldest whisky ever released as part of the distillery’s core public offering.
The Family Collection 1st Edition consists of 11, 14, 18 and 20 Year Old expressions, each chosen during the family’s annual warehouse tasting. Together, they showcase the influence of ex-Bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry cask maturation, while highlighting the two distinct production styles that define Kilchoman.
The standout release is undoubtedly the 20 Year Old, marking a historic milestone as the first globally available 20-year-old whisky from the Islay farm distillery. Matured exclusively in ex-Bourbon casks, it offers exceptional depth while retaining Kilchoman’s signature balance of coastal peat smoke, elegance and complexity.
Another highlight is the 14 Year Old, the only 100% Islay expression in the collection. Distilled from estate-grown barley at Rockside Farm, malted on-site and peated to 20ppm, it perfectly reflects Kilchoman’s farm-to-bottle philosophy with a softer, cereal-driven character.
The remaining releases are produced using heavily peated 50ppm barley from Port Ellen Maltings, delivering the more powerful smoky profile for which the distillery has become renowned.
The Family Collection 1st Edition includes:
- 11 Year Old – Matured exclusively in ex-Oloroso sherry butts, offering rich notes of dried fruit, dark chocolate, spice and peat smoke.
- 14 Year Old – A 100% Islay whisky made entirely from Kilchoman’s own barley, showcasing elegance, sweetness and cereal notes.
- 18 Year Old – Fully matured in ex-Bourbon barrels, balancing creamy vanilla, oak and refined peat smoke at 50% ABV.
- 20 Year Old – Kilchoman’s oldest-ever general release, matured for two decades in ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at 50.9% ABV, with natural colour and no chill filtration.
Commenting on the launch, Anthony Wills, Founder of Kilchoman, said:
“The Kilchoman Family Collection, both this year and in the years to come, showcases some of our most treasured casks. We are especially proud to release our first globally available 20 Year Old as part of this edition. Discovering and tasting these exceptional casks in our warehouses remains one of the great joys of what we do. As a family, we have dedicated the past two decades to crafting the finest spirit and selecting the very best casks, so seeing that commitment and care come to fruition is very rewarding.”
The Kilchoman Family Collection 1st Edition is a fitting celebration of the distillery’s first 20 years, offering whisky enthusiasts a rare opportunity to experience some of its finest and most mature casks.
