.bowmore - wemyss malts - aniseed pastille - 1996-2014

Wemyss malts was very kind to send us some samples to review. Among these samples there was this 1996 Bowmore, bottled in 2014. An 18yo single cask whisky from possibly my least favourite Islay distillery.

.bowmore - 12yo - douglas laing - old particular

48.8% abv, €75, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: smoked liquorice at first, briny, pencil shavings and some citrus
Palate: sweet caramelised liquorice and spicy white pepper, slightly briny and some ash
Finish: smoky, ash and sweet, fruity mangos
Mark: +++++

.bowmore - 2002-2014 - the ultimate

46% abv, €45, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: briny, a whiff of smoke, leather, liquorice, floral, heather
Palate: sweet, strong, spicy, red (hot!) chilli peppers, toffee, liquorice root, honey, honey-comb, wax, floral, heater
Finish: smoke, long, dry, firm, sweet, caramel, waxy, ash
Mark: +++++

.bowmore - john milroy - golden strength

.photo from
whiskybase.com

50% abv, €50, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: light smoke, sweet, honey, fruit, apples
Palate: sweet, honey, fruit, apples, spicy, white pepper
Finish: sweet, clover honey, vanilla, medium long, slight smoke
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: Better than the average (recent) standard bottlings of Bowmore, but still not one to immediately order online or take with you when stumbled upon in a store.

More info: distilled in 1990, bottled in 1999

.bowmore - byo - cask #23

.crap picture,
good whisky

55,5% abv, €80, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour, single cask, cask strength

Nose: smoke, salt, sweet, dried fruit, sultanas, plums, apricots,
Palate: sweet, dry, strong, hot, pepper, honey, floral, heather
Finish: long, medium dry, dries fruits, sultanas, apricots, plums, nice slight smoke
Mark: +++++

.bowmore - 12 - enigma

40% abv, €35, single malt, caramel E150a added

Nose: feint, peat-smoke, ash, fresh, citrus, sweet
Palate: weak, sweetness of sugar, flat
Finish: short, slight bitter, dry
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: Honestly, I find this quite boring.
Overall, I am not a big fan of the Bowmore expressions and this doen not help a lot.

.bowmore - 1999-2011 - malts of scotland

61,2% abv, €55, non chill-filtered, natural colour

Nose: slight medicinal, peat, liquorice, very mild (unexpected with the high abv), mild brine notes
Palate: sweet, honey, less spicy as expected from the high abv, smoky, round, creamy
Finish: medium long, with (finally) the expected spiciness
score: +++++

Conclusion: I am not a Bowmore fan, but this is one I am considering if I would run into a bottle.

.bowmore - 17

43% abv, single malt, caramel e150a added

Nose: Funnily enough, the nose is harsh and young, there is a whiff of alcohol, lots of mint and menthol, citrus and a fresh campfire.
Palate: Sweet and fat join in - after some time, with a sharp, bitter smoke on the  tongue.
Finish: A long, spicy and honey-sweet floral finish.
Score: +++++

Conclusion: Pretty nice, but no wow-factor. According to their own website, this dram has been chosen as their favourite by Bowmore's last three distillery managers, that has given her the nickname 'Manager's Dram'.

.bowmore - 15 - marine

43% abv, single malt, caramel e150a added

Nose: There is sweetness, a light peat accompanied by briny malt, citrus, caramel and for the first time in this series there is the smell of sawdust and wood.
Palate: Sharp on the tongue, like pepper, with sweet honey, a buttery texture, white fruits, a handfull of herbs, some smoke from an open fire.
Finish: A pretty long and firm finish, leaves a honey sweet, yet fat layer on your throat accompanied with strong peat and ashes - in a good way.
Score: +++++

Conclusion: She has the same credentials as the red labeled 'Darkest'; after the twelve years in bourbon, she is finished for a period of three years in an ex-Oloroso butt. I am not sure where the different lies, but to me the "Mariner' is much better then the 'Darkest'.

.bowmore - 18

43% abv, single malt, caramel e150a added

Nose: There is peat on the nose, but its not a big peat attack, but more like a feeling of a hearth predominates the gentle and soft vanilla, fresh malt and muesli grains, caramel and dark chocolate.
Palate:  It is gentle on the tongue, with sweet flowers, honey, buttery fat and hints of smoke.
Finish: Pretty short, bitter and infused with ash.
Score: +++++

Conclusion: Highly recommended, pretty high in the price range, yet for me, despite of the gentle nose and taste, not worth the trouble.

.bowmore - legend

40% abv, single malt, caramel E150a added

Nose: glue, peat smoke, sweet, raisins, tangerine, slightly briny
Palate: gentle, white pepper, fat and watery at the same time
Finish: medium long, banana, white pepper on the tongue
Score: +++++

Concluson: I think it is a (very) young whisky. The glue made me hesitate to taste, but after a short wait, and thanks to the sweet tangerine scents, I slowly was convinced. The palate was everywhere, making it a little an unpleasant experience. Not bad, but not one to run to the shops for.

.bowmore - 15 - darkest

43% abv, single malt, caramel e150a added

Nose: she starts with a sweet nose, adding a briny yet honey-sweet layer over the citrus, a hint of almonds and freshly mowed grass, red fruits, plums and dried muesli and fresh sawdust, completed with a hint of peat.
Palate: in the honey-sweet taste that starts soft, but gets sharper over time, like white pepper. I have found some smoke, more red fruit - especially berries and some caramel.
Finish: it finishes quite spicy at first, last a little longer then her younger siblings and ends in a bitter aftertaste, with a hint of tobacco.
Marks: +++++

Conclusion: getting there, but still not a favourite. I am not sure what it is in Bowmores, but I am just not a fan.

More info: She started her life just about the same way as the twelve year old, but has been transferred into ex-Oloroso butts for a period of three years. My opinion is that the ex-Oloroso has been used before for another 'more premium' whisky, having in a less spectacular result then you might have from other brands' sherry finishes.

.bowmore - 12

40% abv, single malt, caramel e150a added

Nose: fresh, sweet, a hint of peat and a medicinal quality covering the fresh limes, raisins, sultanas, dried apricots, lots of vanilla and the lovely smell of fresh ground grain
Palate: silky soft, light sweet vanilla, red berries and a hint of smoke
Finish: very short ending with a little ash and some sugar
Marks: +++++

Conclusion: Not that difficult a dram. Not a favourite.