Kingsbarns was on my to-do list for a long time. Now finally I get my hands on a sample. As you know Kingsbarns operates in Fife (Lowlands). While originally a brainwave of former golf caddie Douglas Clement, it is now owned by Wemyss Malts. This old farmstead dates back to around 1800. It was restored around 2010 with the first cask of spirit filled in March 2015.
This is a high strength single cask release from a first fill bourbon barrel, the kind that Kingsbarns uses predominantly. It’s a sister cask of the Dutch exclusive from last year, if I’m not mistaken. The cask number tells us this is probably a 2015 vintage.
Kingsbarns 6 yo (60,4%, OB 2022, first fill ex-bourbon barrel #1510256, 251 btl.)
Nose: quite round, with vanilla and honey, as well as melons and apricots. White chocolate cake and hints of yellow apples. Dried pears and sweet lemon candy. Then some cereal notes come out. Maybe a hint of marshmallow too. Smart whisky.
Mouth: strong and creamy, but it shows the same freshness and seductive character. Plenty of vanilla biscuits and fresh white bread, with crisp (green) apples, a little ginger and banana custard. Later white chocolate appears again, as well as some buttered scones and caramel.
Finish: medium long, with some white pepper and minty oak shining through as the fruits fade away.
A well-made whisky, this Kingsbarns. It shows a pretty classic style, with plenty of markers from the bourbon wood. It’s young but inviting, never letting the spirity notes or fresh wood take over. This is certainly promising. I only found it at Master of Malt.