To understand Kilkerran, one must first begin with the story of Campbeltown—the spiritual home of Scotch whisky.
Once home to over 30 distilleries and known as the “Whisky Capital of the World,” Campbeltown enjoyed a golden age of whisky production. However, as the industry declined through the 20th century, only three distilleries remained in operation by its latter half.

It was against this backdrop that a new distillery was born in 2004—the first in Campbeltown in over 125 years.
That distillery is Mitchell's Glengyle, operated by J&A Mitchell & Co., the same company behind the prestigious Springbank Distillery. Built faithfully on the site of the original Glengyle (closed in 1925), the new facility stands as a symbol of revival and respect for tradition.

At Glengyle, production remains intentionally small-scale and hands-on. The distillery embraces time-consuming, inefficient methods in pursuit of authentic whisky character and depth.
The malted barley is prepared using traditional floor malting at its sister distillery Springbank, lightly peated to around 15ppm. Fermentation takes place in wooden washbacks, and distillation is performed just twice—underscoring their commitment to traditional methods and flavor integrity.

The name “Kilkerran” is derived from the Gaelic Ceann Loch Cille Chiarain—meaning “head of the loch of the church of St. Kieran,” the ancient name for Campbeltown.
By choosing a name separate from the distillery itself, the producers emphasize that Kilkerran reflects a distinct philosophy, separate from Springbank.

Production volume remains limited at just 100,000 liters per year, and availability worldwide is extremely constrained.
Yet each bottle is crafted with care, precision, and a deep respect for heritage—qualities that shine through in every sip.

Kilkerran 8 Year Old Bourbon Barrel (Cask Strength)
Annual limited release｜Japanese allocation: 1,440 bottles｜ABV: 55.6%

A special single malt crafted at Glengyle Distillery in Campbeltown, Scotland.
Matured exclusively in bourbon barrels for 8 years, this whisky is bottled at natural cask strength with no added water.
It offers a firm structure with rich sweetness and a distinct saline finish.

Nose
Tanned leather, pipe tobacco, vanilla, lemon, green apple, sponge cake

Palate
Golden syrup, toasted marshmallow, soft peat smoke, earthy and salty undertones

Finish
Herbs, marzipan, and a bitter note reminiscent of grape skins