Hey there! Somehow, we've made it to the 100th post—who knew I had this much to say about whisky? I started this whole journey with two Kingsbarns bottles, so it only makes sense (or poetic destiny?) that number 100 brings us back to where it all began. Full circle—and full glass!

Curious about some raw stats? No? Well, too bad—I'm showing you anyway! Let's talk visitors, followers, likes... because what's a milestone without a little bragging, right?

www.whiskyjourneyz.com stats📊📈

• 22164 unique visitors
• 167612 clicks made by all the visitors - 7.56 clicks on average

Instagram stats📊📈

• 4147 followers
• approx. 20000 likes overall
• 115 posts ---> 173 likes per post on average
• 4.17% engagement rate which is pretty solid

I just want to say a huge thank you to all of you! It honestly means the world to me. Knowing that my reviews can help people and spread a bit of whisky knowledge is such a great feeling. I'll keep doing my best—and I hope I can keep earning your time and support with each post.

Let's jump in and see what this nice single cask bottling has in store for us! 

But before we go any further, please check out my previous reviews.🥃✅

About the distillery

Kingsbarns Distillery is a proud Lowland single malt distillery located in the historic Kingdom of Fife, Scotland, near the famous town of St Andrews. The distillery stands on the site of the old Georgian East Newhall Farm, originally built around 1800 and once owned by the Earl of Kellie. The farm buildings were carefully restored and transformed into a modern whisky distillery, harmoniously blending the old with the new. A notable feature is the original covered walkway, once used by animals to tread grain, now serving as the distillery's visitor reception.

The distillery's founding story is rooted in local passion and vision. Douglas Clement, a former golf caddie familiar with the area's rich golfing heritage, was inspired by visitors' disappointment at the absence of a nearby whisky distillery. He secured funding from the Scottish Government and the Wemyss family, who invested in making this dream a reality. Officially opening on St Andrew's Day in November 2014, Kingsbarns started spirit production in early 2015. Since then, it has quickly established a reputation for quality and innovation, earning several awards including World Whisky Awards' Best Lowlands Single Malt.

Production

At Kingsbarns, production revolves around tradition and meticulous care with a focus on local ingredients. The distillery produces approximately 200,000 liters of new make spirit annually. Water is sourced uniquely from a deep well drilled about 100 meters underground, tapping mineral-rich, stable-temperature aquifer water rather than relying on rivers or lakes that may fluctuate seasonally. This ensures a consistent supply for distilling and visitor amenities, while a biological treatment plant handles wastewater purification.

The barley used is exclusively Concerto variety, grown on local Fife farms, supporting sustainable regional agriculture. The malt is produced without peat smoke, preserving a clean and fresh character. Mashing is performed in a 7,000-liter semi-lauter tun where malt is processed and sugars extracted in three successive washes, optimizing sugar yield through reuse of the third wash water.

Fermentation takes place in 11,000-liter stainless steel washbacks over a lengthy 65-85 hour period using selected yeast strains, including British and French varieties, to develop the signature fruity and light spirit profile. Distillation happens in two medium-sized copper pot stills crafted by Richard Forsyth, designed with wide necks and lyne arms angled to produce a refined, delicate spirit.

Kingsbarns whisky matures primarily in ex-American Bourbon barrels, imported whole from the U.S., which impart vanilla and subtle oak notes. A smaller portion is aged in larger sherry or port wine casks that undergo a special STR (Shaved, Toasted, and Re-charred) process to enhance complexity without overpowering the spirit's delicate character. The combination of casks allows the whisky to develop a balance of orchard fruit, light floral, citrus, and tropical notes, alongside soft sweetness and gentle spice.

Due to space constraints at the distillery itself, most maturation takes place off-site in bonded warehouses. Kingsbarns maintains a careful wood policy aimed at preserving their elegant Lowland style, emphasizing balance and finesse over heavy sherry influence. This thoughtful approach results in whisky with complexity yet lightness, typical of the region's signature profile.

Core range

• Dream to Dram - Released: 2018 - Maturation: 90% first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and 10% STR (Shaved, Toasted, Re-charred) wine casks - ABV: 46% - Non-chill filtered, natural colour

• Doocot - Released: 2023 - Maturation: Also matured in 90% ex-Bourbon and 10% STR casks, but with longer aging than Dream to Dram - ABV: 46% - Non-chill filtered, natural colour

• Balcomie - Released: 2020 - Maturation: 100% Oloroso sherry casks - ABV: 46% - Non-chill filtered, natural colour

• Coaltown - Released: 2024 - Maturation: ex-Islay casks - ABV: 46% - Non-chill filtered, natural colour

• Family Reserve / Limited Editions (Occasional)

Kingsbarns takes pride in sustainability efforts, powering its site entirely with renewable energy and recycling spent grain as cattle feed. Water used in distillation returns naturally filtered to the environment, highlighting their commitment to minimizing environmental impact. The distillery also embraces innovation in packaging and logistics to reduce waste and emissions, continually striving to set new standards in eco-friendly whisky production.

Kingsbarns 6 yo Single Cask 1 of 330 - Natural Color, Non-chill filtered, 46%

Single Cask Release

Bottled 2023

Stated Age 6 years

Cask Type 1st fill ex-Bourbon barrel

Casknumber 1510250

Number of bottles 330

Nose: Classic Kingsbarns from the start — sugar frosting, soft vanilla, and a gentle wave of caramel and brown sugar. There's a warm, malty base layered with butterscotch, fresh-baked croissant, and buttered toast. Orchard fruits emerge in the background, evoking apple pie fresh from the oven.

Taste: Creamy and oily in texture with a pleasant warmth. The flavour opens with butterscotch and French toast, followed by croissant and pastel de nata—rich and eggy-sweet. Malted biscuits and orchard fruits round it out, joined by generous vanilla, maple syrup, and molasses. Oak is subtle, with just a whisper of astringency keeping it from becoming overly sweet.

Finish: Medium in length, soft and malty. The creamy texture lingers with notes of vanilla, butterscotch, gentle oak, and brown sugar. Orchard fruits return alongside an unexpected but welcome touch of banana on the tail end.

Overall for me, this is a really honest, straightforward bourbon cask-matured whisky. It doesn't try to show off or do anything flashy—and I actually really respect that. What it does deliver, it does really well: loads of creamy vanilla sweetness, soft orchard fruits, and that warm, buttery malt character I love in Kingsbarns. It's full of comforting notes like brown sugar, croissant, and maple syrup—simple pleasures done right. Nothing overly complex, but super enjoyable and well balanced. I gave it an 8.3/10 because while it doesn't push boundaries, it nails the style it's going for. Buy it. Try it. Drink responsibly.

Some of the photos featured in this article are not my own; I've credited the original owners. All other images bearing my logo were taken and are owned by me.

Feel free to check out the scores and rankings I've given to each whisky I reviewed.

Thanks for reading—I hope you enjoyed it! Here's to many more drams. Sláinte!

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