Doocot — Scots for dovecote — is Kingsbarns' sherry-influenced expression, taking over from the retired Dream to Dram as the centrepiece of the range. Where Dream to Dram was predominantly bourbon-matured and tropical in character, Doocot leans into first-fill oloroso and PX sherry casks, producing a richer, darker whisky from the same Fife-grown barley.
The distillery's commitment to local provenance continues: the barley is grown exclusively in East Fife, and the spirit is distilled in Kingsbarns' small copper pot stills. The sherry cask influence adds dried fruit and spice to the distillery's naturally clean, citric spirit, creating a marriage that is more successful than the age of the distillery might suggest. Bottled at 46% without chill filtration.
The nose is warm and inviting: dried fruit, Christmas cake, orange peel, cinnamon, and toffee, with the Kingsbarns' signature honeyed barley note persisting beneath the sherry. The palate delivers stewed plum, dark chocolate, ginger, walnut, vanilla, and a rich sweetness that is well-managed — the sherry adds depth without burying the spirit.
The finish is medium, with spice, dried fruit, and a gentle warmth. Kingsbarns is still a young distillery, and the Doocot shows both the limitations and the promise of that youth — the sherry casks do heavy lifting, but the spirit beneath is clean and bright enough to carry the weight. As the distillery's stocks mature, the future looks promising.
