Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2025 Review | Still One of Islay’s Best Annual Sherry Releases?
Long before I ever worked behind the bar at Café ZILT in Amsterdam, my wife and I decided to visit after hearing so many good things about the place. We booked one of their whisky flights, hosted by the ever-enthusiastic Michael. Anyone who has met him knows exactly what I mean when I say he doesn’t simply pour whisky; he tells stories. His passion was infectious and by the end of that afternoon I found myself seriously considering whether I wanted to work in whisky myself.
A few months later I applied for a job, became one of the bartenders at ZILT and spent a fantastic period behind one of the best whisky bars in the Netherlands. Michael and the rest of the team are still dear friends today, and every now and then I’ll happily jump behind the bar to help out when needed.
One of the drams Michael poured that first afternoon was Kilchoman Loch Gorm. I remember falling in love with it almost instantly. Rich sherry, maritime smoke and that unmistakable Kilchoman character all came together beautifully. Since then I’ve made a point of trying every new edition. They all differ slightly from year to year, but one thing has remained remarkably consistent: the quality has always been exceptional.
So, does the 2025 edition continue that tradition? Let’s find out.
Listen to the Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2025 Review:
Tasting Notes: Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2025
Stats
- Distillery: Kilchoman
- Category: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Age: 10 Years Old
- Cask Type: First Fill & Refill Oloroso Sherry Butts
- ABV: 46%
- Flavour profile: Smoke & Storm
- Natural Colour: Yes
- Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Nose
The first impression immediately reminds me why I’ve always loved Loch Gorm. There’s an unmistakable coastal freshness with brine and sea spray that instantly transports me back to walking along the warehouse-lined shores of Islay during Fèis Ìle aboard the Thalassa. That combination of damp oak, salty air and gently smouldering peat is all here.
From there it opens into lemon meringue and raspberry marmalade before richer notes begin to emerge. Salted caramel joins beautifully syrupy Luxardo cherries, while an unusual but surprisingly appealing savoury note of maple-drizzled cold cuts adds another layer of complexity.
This is one of those noses where every few minutes reveal something new, and I could happily spend half an hour simply nosing the glass.
Palate
The arrival is sweeter than expected with molasses and thick apple syrup leading the charge before liquorice root quickly takes over.
As the whisky develops it becomes increasingly savoury. Peppered roast beef, iodine and an unmistakable medicinal cough syrup note appear alongside bay leaf, raisins and beautifully braised pork. The Luxardo cherries from the nose return, adding just enough fruit to keep everything in balance, while touches of espresso and freshly baked biscuits round everything off elegantly.
It’s an engaging whisky with plenty happening, although I do find the palate slightly more tannic than previous Loch Gorm releases. The medicinal cough syrup note is also one I’m personally not entirely convinced by. Some drinkers may enjoy it, but for me it interrupts an otherwise beautifully layered experience.
Finish
The finish is medium long and gently warming. Pepper and molasses remain the dominant flavours, accompanied by lingering liquorice root.
Then something unexpected appears. There’s a nostalgic hint of strawberry Slush Puppy alongside soft vanilla cream before a gentle touch of cacao slowly fades away. It’s a lovely ending that leaves you reaching for another sip.
Verdict
Kilchoman has built an enviable reputation for consistency, and while I don’t think the 2025 Loch Gorm quite reaches the heights of some previous editions, it remains a thoroughly enjoyable whisky.
Where earlier Loch Gorm releases sometimes exploded from the glass with remarkable intensity, this year’s edition feels just a little more restrained. The nose is absolutely outstanding and arguably one of the best I’ve experienced from the series, but the palate doesn’t quite maintain that same level throughout. The slight tannic edge and medicinal cough syrup note occasionally pull me away from what is otherwise a wonderfully balanced dram.
That being said, we’re judging this against previous Loch Gorm bottlings, which is admittedly a very high bar to clear. Compared to many other sherried peated whiskies on the market, this still comfortably sits among the better examples available today.
If you’ve never experienced Loch Gorm before, you’re unlikely to be disappointed. If, like me, you’ve followed the series for years, you may find yourself preferring some earlier editions.
Strengths
- Exceptionally complex and inviting nose.
- Wonderful contrast between sweet, savoury and coastal flavours.
- Still readily available well after release, making it relatively easy to find.
Weaknesses
- Slightly less expressive than some previous Loch Gorm releases.
- Other Kilchoman expressions currently offer better value for money.
- A touch too tannic at times on the palate.
- The medicinal cough syrup note won’t be to everyone’s taste—myself included.
Food Pairing
The savoury character makes this a brilliant whisky alongside a generous charcuterie board or smoked herring or haddock. It also has enough body to stand up to richer dishes such as a well-spiced beef rendang or chicken satay.
Personally I’d avoid pairing it with sweet desserts, but if you absolutely have to, a warm chocolate lava cake would probably be your best option.
Who Is This Whisky For?
If you’re already a Kilchoman fan, Loch Gorm remains one of the annual releases worth looking forward to. Every edition tells a slightly different story while remaining unmistakably Loch Gorm.
I’d also happily recommend this to anyone who already enjoys peated whisky and wants to explore the distillery further.
For the true whisky nerds among us, however, I actually think Kilchoman currently offers even more exciting bottles. The Maury Cask release delivers considerably more intensity, while several of the 100% Islay expressions showcase just how versatile the distillery has become. Those bottles simply offer a little more excitement and, in my opinion, slightly better value for money.
What Others Write About This Whisky
After spending time with this Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2025 myself, I always enjoy seeing how my own impressions compare with other reviewers.
The team at Whisky For Everyone also praised the balance between rich oloroso sherry and Kilchoman’s signature maritime peat, highlighting the whisky’s approachable nature while noting that it remains unmistakably Islay. Their review echoes my own appreciation for how well the sherry complements rather than dominates the spirit.
Scotch Malt Whisky described the whisky as another successful evolution of the Loch Gorm series, drawing attention to the quality of the oloroso casks and the continued consistency of the annual releases. That consistency is exactly why I keep coming back every year, even when some editions inevitably appeal to me more than others.
Meanwhile, WhiskyArt focused on the whisky’s elegant balance between fruit, smoke and maritime influences, particularly praising its complexity and layered development in the glass. Reading their notes afterwards, I found myself smiling at how many of those coastal and fruity characteristics we independently picked up.
Final Thoughts
Loch Gorm has become something of an annual tradition for me, and perhaps that’s partly because it reminds me where my own whisky journey really began. Without that first dram at Café ZILT all those years ago, I’m honestly not sure whether I would have ended up working in whisky at all.
The 2025 edition may not become my favourite Loch Gorm to date, but it’s another reminder of why Kilchoman has earned such a loyal following. The nose is genuinely exceptional, the whisky remains wonderfully layered, and even with a few minor criticisms it’s still a bottle I thoroughly enjoyed returning to.
Not every annual release has to be the best one yet. Sometimes being consistently very good is exactly what keeps people coming back year after year. Kilchoman continues to prove that with Loch Gorm.
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