Tastes

I received a sample and was not expecting much as I don’t really like the regular Bowmore 10. Hits the palette hot and doesn’t feel like cask strength is the right point. Lots of alcohol and sparky on the tongue. This one really needs water. The same night I had Lot 40 Cask Strength at 57% and it was excellent as bottled. This Bowmore needs water. With water you get some fruit and the lightest hint of peat. Much better with water. Nice to try but I wouldn’t buy.

Received a sample and I was really looking forward to this. Very disappointed. On the nose I didn’t get sweetness or wine, I got a slightly sour malty nose. The taste is malty and sour, expected sweetness. This a very big pass.

Lot 40 3rd Edition Cask Strength Steps up at a hefty 57%, not my favourite abv as I don’t prefer cash strength. I‘ll comment on 45% and 57%. Nose is spicy rye and hints of what you get out of an American whisky that is aged in new barrels. At 57% it hits the palette surprisingly smooth with less burn than you would expect. It’s actually really nice. The second sip is even better when you are conditioned to the abv. Love the finish. European oak influence shows up, warming and rye spice. The finish is long and drying. It is is really well balanced at 57%, I prefer it as designed and released by Dr. Don. I cut this to 45% with distilled water and careful measurements. At 45% the palette is super smooth but you lose some of the power and almost all of the spice and drying impact on the finish. I don’t recommend cutting the proof. This whisky is outstanding. Add this to the list of fantastic and underrated Canadian whiskies.

I like peat and Laphroaig is my favourite peated whisky. I like Compass Box whiskies and I was really looking forward to this. YouTube channel Whisky Mystery liked it a lot and I finally gave this one a go. The colour is almost transparent which is kind of neat. On the nose I get Caol Ila all day long. This blend has 54% Caol Ila 8 yo, 34% Laphroaig 7 yo, 6% Ledaig 7 yo, 5% Ardmore 7 yo, 1% Highland blend 9 yo. I don’t get the Laphroaig but on the palette I get the parts of Ledaig that I don’t like - a bit of an ashy, rubbery peat. Caol Ila is there as well. It is Compass Box smooth and well blended. The catch is I don’t prefer Caol Ila and I dislike Ledaig. What I wanted was more spice, some European oak influence like Spice Tree. On the finish I don’t get a lot and, the best part of Caol Ila 12 is a smoke that rises on the finish. That smoke isn’t here and there is no spice. Caol Ila 12 is better if you like Caol Ila. Laphroaig is unidentifiable here and Laphroaig 10 is way better if you like Laphroaig. Ledaig is identifiable and that’s a bad thing. I don’t know Ardmore so I can’t comment there. Drink it? Yes, I’ll finish it but it will take a long time. Buy again? Never.

Red oak and red wheat gives it a lovely finish full of spice and sweetness. I had a sample and then decided to buy a full bottle. Good call. The age and the wheat mesh soft wheat and wood spice. Medium to long finish that is slightly warming and spicy. The nose is sweetness and oak, Canadian but so well balanced with no noticeable raw alcohol notes despite being 49%. Simply delicious.

Why did someone think this needed to be cask strength? Super dry and hints of slightly wet hotel carpet on the nose. This is a hard no.

The true test - I didn’t finish the sample. I like peated, a lot, but I don’t like this.

The master blender responsible for this whisky describes it as dessert in a bottle and one of his top 6 whiskies he’s blended. The nose is sweet and caramel with a hint of sherry. This isn’t the whisky’s strength though. The palette is incredibly smooth and all 21 years show up. Beautiful, sweet and a mix of delicate corn and sherry. On the finish there is spice and hints of European wood. This whisky is super sessionable. A great drinking whisky at the ideal proof. About 4400 bottles in the limited run. My favourite Canadian and one of my favourite whiskies period. To be safe I bought two more bottles for backups. Highly recommended.