Kingsbarns Balcomie: classic sherry nuttiness
Kingsbarns Distillery always made an impression of a very solid, well thought out operation. Quietly releasing a variation of core range bottlings, packaged in authentic glassware and with focus on a true Lowland malt whisky character. Of course, the strong ties to St. Andrews, with all its famous assets, makes Kingsbarns an addition not only to the whisky fold, but also to the region. And I am a sucker for regionality in single malt. That is perhaps why I just stuck every general release of Kingsbarns in the back of my cabinet, gently building up a range. I just like what they are doing there. The ties to whisky precede the establishment of the distilling of whisky, having roots in the Wemyss Malts independent bottling. A thorough read about the distillery you can find here.
Kingsbarns Balcomie, bottled at 46 % abv
First things first: First introduced as a standard strength release, made up from ex-oloroso American oak sherry butts. In 2022 there also was a cask strength version. My sample was bottled in 2021.
Upon Sipping: When you are located in the East Neuk of Fife, there should be easy access to barley as the Kingdom has a centuries old heritage in growing barley. In combination with the former sherry casks, this results in a creamy, almost buttery nose. Slight hints of sulphur, but just as an deviation away from the dry husk in the centre of it all. Sunflower oil comes up and then a whiff of the sherry that does not necessarily makes me think of oloroso though, rather a Fino or Manzanilla perhaps inspired by some influences from coastal Fife?
Taking a sip, notes of a more salty sherry continue well onto the finish, where finally a more nutty and traditionally oloroso flavour unfolds. The combination of the rather gentle and modest spirit made by Kingsbarns with the oak and the previous contents of the vessel needs a bit more integration than I initially find here. Lowland whisky in combination with sherry casks is always a tricky exercise, and this Balcomie seems to underline that. Nonetheless, it is a flavoursome and fancy single malt in the glass here, that gets more and more talkative as time passes. On the palate, I pick up more notes of warm vanilla sauce, apples and sponge cake. The nutty finish makes it a modern sherry whisky, playing obediently along with the rules of the sherry maturation playbook.
Word to the Wise: The Kingsbarns Balcomie colours firmly inside the lines and delivers a very gentle and soft aperitive single malt whisky. If you enjoy nuttiness in your whisky, this is an excellent choice. I enjoyed the delicate texture of this Lowland malt, but would have liked perhaps a tad more red fruit for some much needed excitement. Very close to the Eden Mill on sherry that I tasted before, but they added PX-matured spirit to the mix. Maybe a suggestion for Kingsbarns?
Score: 81 points.