Kingsbarns Coaltown Whisky Review: Do Fruit and Islay Smoke Play Well Together?

Welcome to the Kingsbarns Coaltown Review. The latest addition to this Lowland single malt distillery’s core range is a whisky that marries the signature fruity Lowland character with smoky influences from Islay. Curious how that tastes? You’ll find out in this article.

Kingsbarns Coaltown takes its name from the Coaltown of Wemyss, a mining village near Wemyss Castle, the ancestral home of the Wemyss family. The family has deep roots in the Fife region, on the Firth of Forth, and a longstanding connection to whisky, of course.

Inspired by this rich heritage, Coaltown now joins the Kingsbarns Single Malts core range. It’s a whisky fully matured in ex-peated casks from Islay. Peter Holroyd, manager of Kingsbarns Distillery, puts it this way: “Matured exclusively in ex-peated casks, this is truly a Lowland take on a smoky whisky.”

Like Doocot, Coaltown comes in a bespoke Kingsbarns bottle. The bottle is produced by the specialist team at Stölzle Glass, one of the world’s leading makers of high-end bottles for premium spirits and liqueurs. You’ll find “Kingsbarns Single Malt” embossed around the shoulder, doves in relief flying around the glass, and a lovely detail on the base representing the historic Kingsbarns doocot.

The label is green, a color often associated with nature. It signals renewal, and there’s clear thought behind it. Earlier this year, Kingsbarns phased out carton boxes as part of its sustainability efforts, and to avoid price hikes seen elsewhere. Coaltown therefore arrives without outer packaging. A pity, perhaps, but understandable.

In the end, it’s all about flavor, so let’s dive in. The nose opens sweet and fresh with tropical fruit, heather blossom, and citrus, followed by a very elegant touch of smoke. At 46% ABV the texture is creamy, with sweet notes of apple pie, cinnamon, and cheesecake, while the smoke stays subtle in the background. It wraps up with a medium to long finish where the fresh fruit and smoke never quite fade.

While Kingsbarns Doocot may have felt a touch less complex, that’s certainly not the case with Coaltown. The signature summery, refreshing Lowland DNA takes the lead, while the Islay casks add layers of complexity that push this whisky a welcome step further.

Lowland whisky lovers will definitely appreciate Coaltown. It will also shine in cocktails. Finally, as with other Kingsbarns whiskies, we expect Coaltown to pick up awards. Is that justified? Absolutely.

+ Fresh yet complex thanks to ex-peated cask influence

+ Beautiful bottle

+ Very approachable and drinkable despite 46% ABV

- Despite maturation in ex-peated casks (we’re thinking Laphroaig), the smoke is not strongly pronounced

Check out the rest of our whisky reviews here.