This Bowmore, for some time available exclusively at the distillery’s shop, is the result of a selection by the Maltmen (people who work at the Bowmore Malthouse) of 5 barrels, all ex-sherry (as you can immediately see from the dark copper color), all containing whisky distilled on 13-7-1995. Our tasting notes will be in a reduced format due to the too intense pleasure experienced.
N: the aging in ex-sherry casks tends to dampen and hide the alcohol, which however is about 54%… The sherry notes are along a path that starts from dried meat and evolves towards leather and tobacco, but all with great freshness and harmony. After a while, these characteristics make up a delicate background on which the most fruity aromas (red fruit and dried fruit) stand out. Moderately smoky and with a good spicy wood.
P: intensely fruity (strawberry, black cherry) and with some citrus notes. It is very sweet (orange chocolate, hazelnut) but at the same time, and a little surprisingly so compared to the nose, there are also the marine notes so typical of the distillery. Lots of salt and tasty hints of wood. Here and there, nutmeg.
F: wonderfully fruity and fortified (cherry). Quite long and discreetly peaty.
As written in the previous post, this Bowmore was – according to everyone present – the least good of the four malts proposed at last night’s tasting: this only means that an excellent whisky was accompanied by three other even more extraordinary whiskies… The sweet and fruity character is nicely balanced by a very strong marinity on the palate, creating a happy example of a successful mix between sherry and peaty whisky. Really good, congratulations to the employees of the Bowmore malt house: you have made a good choice! Our humble judgment is 89/100.
Recommended soundtrack: Dinah Washington – What difference a day makes, from the album Give me back my tears.
