Kimchangsoo Gimpo First Edition 2024

Kimchangsoo Gimpo First Edition 2024

Official bottling
Single malt - Gyeonggi
Amber copper
50.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Copper kettles, aluminium foil, black tea, smoke, raisins, sandalwood, ume, hints of prunes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Raisins, ume, prunes, apricots, black tea, roast chicken, sandalwood, aluminium foil, black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Copper kettles, black tea, sandalwood, apricots, hints of farmyard. 

Comments: 

Very flavourful, and quite the sherry bomb. Well blended with plenty of balance, but also with distinct flavours, int is case apricots, ume and copper. Very good whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ki One Unicorn

Ki One Unicorn

Official bottling 
Single malt - Gyeonggi
Copper gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mushrooms, smoke, autumn leaves, lemon zest, pear drops, cinnamon, hay. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Smoke, autumn leaves, hay, peat, pear drops, lemon sherbet, vitamin C tablets, orange peel, photocopy paper, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Lemon sherbet, photocopy paper, hay, autumn leaves. 

Comments: 

Earthy and a little grassy, with plenty of smoke and peat. There’s also some citrus sweetness, and a little chalkiness. Plenty of other feinty notes too, especially on the tongue. There is no template for Korean peated whisky, but this could become one.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ki One Eagle

Ki One Eagle

Official bottling
Single malt - Gyeonggi
Amber gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange juice, orange peel, vitamin C tablets, grapefruit, sandalwood, white grapes, clay dust, hints of parchment paper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, astringent, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Orange juice, orange peel, lemon zest, grapefruit, vitamin C tablets, apricot jam, gentian, fresh cut grass, clay dust. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, gentian, ginseng, fresh cut grass, clay dust, apricot jam. 

Comments: 

Slightly dusty and mineral, but with heaps of fruity flavours. Lots of something chalky and fizzy, like vitamin C tablets. It then builds to a bitter fragrant finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ki One Tiger

Ki One Tiger

Official bottling 
Single malt - Gyeonggi
Amber gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Hay, cream, orange peel, pear drops, ink, honey, strawberry sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Aluminium foil, honey, raisins, strawberry jam, fresh cut grass, orange peel, cream, hints of vitamin C tablets. 
Finish: Long. Cream, aluminium foil, fresh cut grass, strawberry sweets, ink.  

Comments: 

Very citrusy, but also plenty of creaminess and a slight metallic tang. More complex than the age and cask would suggest. Rather pleasant.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ki One Virgin American Oak

Ki One Virgin American Oak

Official bottling 
Single malt - Gyeonggi
Light amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apricots, mangoes, roast chicken, green tea, cotton candy, raisins, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Mangoes, fresh baked bread, malted grains, peaches, cotton candy, brown paper, vanilla. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, vanilla, green tea, hints of cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Fruity, lots of sweet notes, including slightly artificial cotton candy, but recognisably whisky underneath. Malt turns up on the tongue, before fading to a tannic, spicy finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ki One Batch 2 Distiller’s Edition

Ki One Batch 2 Distiller’s Edition

Official bottling 
Single malt - Gyeonggi
Amber brown
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, sandalwood, cooked rice, boiled eggs, honey, hints of nutmeg. With water, nutmeg, rubber bands, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, expands, tingly, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Honey, white pepper, rubber bands, malted grains, nutmeg, hints of new plastic. With water, nutmeg, honey, new plastic. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, orange peel, rubber bands, white pepper. 

Comments: 

First South Korean whisky! It’s quite unusual, floral and woody, but with a plasticky note (especially with a little water) that implies a very young age. It’s only about 3 years old too.

Verdict:

I like this.