Tastes

Very pleasant on the nose! The Islay smoke is there, but is accompanied by a strong, sweet, bready aroma, almost reminiscent of a sherry-casked Ardbeg Uigeadail. Although Bowmore's reputation of being one of the least-smoky Islay's, I just keep wondering how perfect this whisky would be on the nose if there was just a bit more smoke. On the tongue, the first description that comes to mind is "sweet smoke". A lot of the first few seconds around the mouth is eerily similar to the nose, with a slight malt and mesquite BBQ undertones showing up here and there. Relatively low on the heat, true to its 40% ABV, and very minimum spice except on the roof of the mouth. Light-to-medium body, with a relatively lingering spice on the roof of the mouth, and ever so slight licorice on the tongue. This bottle shines through its straightforward simplicity. I cannot help but imagine how much of beast this would be at a higher proof

Smells like a very plain, brown sugar and molasses-based bourbon. No immediate hint of rye or even that strong of an alcohol spice. Tastes much more pleasant and colourful than it smells. Immediate sweet warmth of caramel and wood, followed-on by more spicy wood and slight bitterness at the back of the tongue. It is really not boring at all. Like the nose, there no strong hint of rye here. Surprisingly thick mouthfeel for the proof, with an aftertaste of heat and slight woody and tea bitterness. I can understand how this is perceived as a more “complex” bourbon at its price range.

Smells like a more-complex-than-usual Speyside, sweet, malty, bready, slight orange peel - very pleasant and easy. Tastes significantly less sweet than the nose. Warm, bready, butterscotch with slight raisin hiding somewhere in the back, and a bit of an astringent bite at the end - punching above its 40% ABV. Very pleasant. Mouthfeel is medium-light, with the only lingering flavor being the gingery heat and slight maltiness. Nothing to write home about, but really nothing to complain about either.

Very pretty looking bottled compared to older, lower-proofed Rare Breeds. On the nose, smells very different from the more famous Wild Turkey 101, faint to no hint of rye. Overall aroma is faint from a safe distance, trying to sniff too close rewards you with sharp alcohol burn. If you swirl it long enough, some notes of mandarin oranges and clove cigarettes come through. On the palate, immediate burst of hot, sweet vanilla puding, followed by slightly-salted roasted peanuts. The vanilla tastes gets stronger on the exhale, but never overwhelmingly sweet like how it can get with the Russell's Reserve Single Barrel. Very thick, oily mouthfeel that is also visibly very viscous in the glass. The alcohol heat also lingers, creating a very pleasant, warm, coating sensation that is not painfully spicy like most bourbons at this ABV. Some iodine bitterness peeking out a while after taking in larger swigs. Hands down, best bang for your buck bourbon!

Very girthy bottle that is not easiest to pour - fun to pass around. On the nose, smells of very strong alcohol heat singeing your nostrils. Cinammon caramel sweetness with almost zero rye smell. Similar to the 10 year old, but with more sweetness and heat on the nose. A very, very slight tomato ketchup whiff after a couple of twirls. Immediately warm, tingling alcohol in the mouth. More rye coming out compared to the nose. Corn caramel sweetness all over the mouth, some effervescent vitamin C tablet taste mid palate. Very viscous texture, oily mouthfeel reminescent of, somehow, an Ardbeg 10. Very strong, spicy, lasting, starfruit and malty aftertaste all over the mouth and on the exhale. Best sipping bourbon I've had so far.

0Smells grassy and nutty, not as strikingly sweet and "typical bourbon" as your usual Wild Turkey offerings. There's a bit of cherry/chocolate smell hiding in the back. Taste surprisingly malty for a bourbon, minimum to no taste of rye and herbs. Slowly but surely fades into caramel and orange zest. All, however, very subtle with a backbone of sweetness. Surprisingly thin mouthfeel for a 45% ABV, short to medium finish of a bit of spice and sweetness at the back of the throat

Very dark, copper, tea-like color - all natural apparently. On the nose, dark fruit stew, cola, molasses, Holsten Malt-like maltiness, and some faint hints of chocolatte peaking through. This smells like warm dessert - very appetizing. Tastes immediately like warm creme brulee all over the tongue and coating the walls of the mouth. The proof feels higher than 46%! The taste turns into malty bread and slowly morphs into sweet almond brittle and some tannin on the tip of the tongue. This tastes like a how a Highland Park should. Very pleasant, but a bit more one dimensional than I expected. Medium, oily mouthfeel that feels thicker than it is because of the sweetness. Lingering finish of pepper on the lips, but dried raisins on the tongue and on the exhale - must be the sherry casks. After a while, the whole mouth and nose feels like I've just finished a mug of sweet grass jelly drink.

When poured in the glass, the room will instantly smell like simple syrup - you are immediately introduced to how sweet this will be. Nose starts with a very strong, burning alcohol spike, behind which lies some bright honey and typical bourbon aromas - which if you try chasing deeper, will punish you with the initial alcohol burn. A weird way to put this would be: the nose hurts so good. In the mouth, it storms out with an almost-wheater sweetness that is immediately followed-up with heat, extreme heat that is true to its proof, all over the mouth and down to your belly - the Kentucky Hug in this is real. After some sweet caramel with the bite, this fades into slightly bitter oakiness. Mouthfeel is quite syrupy, but it was quite hard to notice that due to the heat. This whiskey finishes with a long oaky burn all over the tongue, with bitterness, again, coming through at the end. Would give this a 4.5 if it was more complex in the taste.

Very light and clear colour, supposedly no caramel coloring and non-chill filtered. Smells of a very appetizing bbq/mesquite smoke straight away, with almost a sweet ripe orange whiff if you really get into it. Makes you really want to go straight into it and forget trying to identify other notes on the nose! Taste starts with briny zing to the outer edges of the tongue, rolling into bitter smoke throught the tongue and a spicy climax all over the mouth - tasting like every bit true to its 46% ABV. In many ways this is similar to the Lagavulin 16, but without the obvious sherry influence, which is replaced by a more grassy malt sweetness mid-palate. Very oily mouthfeel that you can feel even on your lips. Thick body that leaves a lingering bitter smoke, spicy sensation for quite some time. Your nose will smell like burnt meat and spicy mustard on the exhale for the next 30 minutes after the last sip - this thing lingers! I imagine that this puckering bitterness can be unpleasant for those who prefer sweet bourbon / rum. This bottle tastes like how most people think Islay whiskies SHOULD taste like. This should be everyone's Islay staple.

(2020 bottling of 2019 release, updated large turkey label) Very sweet and cinammon spice-y on the nose, sharp orange peel here and there - I can nose this for hours! Tastes very similar to the nose, with some of the corn sweetness replaced by a huge punch of oak and some leather. Very warming Kentucky Hug true of its high proof. Medium mouthfeel and finish, filled with rye spice and wax at the back of mouth and on the exhale. Amazing bourbon that does take you on a journey, even at this price. Best bang for your buck in the entire spirits world hands down!