After the first four goodies from the Feis Ile 2018, we complete the island tour with three more bottlings and our concise emotions/impressions. On this occasion we would like to thank again WhiskyClub Italia for giving the opportunity to taste the Festival’s bottlings to so many fans, whose only fault was that they didn’t spent a week of delirious whisky-craziness on Islay.
Bowmore 15 yo Feis Ile (2018, OB, 52,5%)
A little bit bold, the wood is very present and the first sensation is an excessive burnt sweetness, like mastic: and yet that tropical note, of salted maracuja, rises and grows. Sweet licorice. Toasted, sweet brioche. With water the floral side (we say lavender, bougainvillea) comes out. On the palate the tropical explosion is impressive, then toffee and caramel. A bit of white chocolate. Very rich but simple. Pleasant, the water lightens the nose and spreads toffee on the palate. The ending closes curiously on a combo of smoked herring and pine needles.
Uh. 86/100
Kilchoman 11 yo Feis Ile (2018, OB, 55,5%)
A pear nose (in all its forms), oysters and rubber shoes. Lime, lemon, sweetened lemonade. At first it’s a bit strange, it normalizes over time, leaving the mentholated suggestions faint. On the palate it is very consistent, with a distinct vanilla in addition. Maybe it is because it’s our sixth whisky, but the smoke is very light, on the sidelines. Good, extraordinary banality. 87/100
Bunnahabhain 2007 Feis Ile (2018, OB, 59,5%)
The nose is unique. Notes of paprika, Worchester sauce, tabasco chipotle and BBQ sauce. Smoked paprika. Pork fat. Licorice. The palate shows alcohol, it remains very sweet and intensely smoky. Full, very mouth-wrapping, while the finish (short) remains on barbecue and smoke. 86/100, excellent but monotonous. But what a nose…
Recommended soundtrack: Ulver – Southern Gothic
