Bowmore 18 Year

Review #025 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 43% Comments: aged 18 years, ex-sherry and ex-bourbon Tasted after: Bowmore 15 Year Appearance (no score): Mahogany color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs form quickly. Nose: 17/20 Vanilla, strawberry jam, rubber, and oranges. It’s hard to smell the peat smoke but you can tell it’s there. Palate: 36/40 The palate is surprisingly smokey given that it’s nearly non-existent on the nose. There’s also red currents, orange marmalade, a touch of honey, and a light saltiness Finish: 36/40 Nice long finish. Oak spice gives way to cinnamon and baking spices, a mild alcohol burn carries the spice along a long slow transition to ashes and smoke. With Water: A drop of water really brightens it up a bit by bringing out more citrus flavors. Total: 89/100 Final thoughts: Radically different than the 12 and 15 year but in a very good way, the bourbon casks seem to dominate the nose but the Spanish sherry influence rules the palate. Price: $160 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Nose: wonderful, sweet (however less sweet than the 15 yo), little peat, sherry (nuts,, dark fruits), rubbery, some floral notes, very complex and very balanced. Tutti frutty? Warming spices, orange Palate: Dark fruits heavy upfront, then pepper and sweetness, which gets softer towards the finish, some orange during mid palate Finish: long, much longer than the 15yo and less peaty. ginger and nuts, sugar sweet, lightly oaky, smoke comes back after several minutes

Nose: very fragrant, bit of smoke Taste: weird texture on palate, sweet, has that “soapy” taste, balanced Finish: moderately strong, medium body

This is absolutely one of my favorite drams. I nursed it for 30 minutes and new things emerged as the whisky aerated. There’s so much going on here. Roasted pork is prominent, but only when I hold the nosing glass to far outside of my left nostril. On the palate, a surprising sweetness. It’s spicy but it doesn’t burn. I’m not a big fan of rye, which is very spicy, but somehow the cinnamon and pepper here are both bold and gentle in a way that makes me feel safe and protected. The finish is fruit and flowers. But wait. That was just the first time through. Now the smoked meat is gone. I’m not getting smoke. The nose is Japanese grape gummy candy. Soft, chewy, more authentic concord grape flavor than American candy. The pleasing spice on the palate stays and a grape aftertaste with cardamom lingers. Update: I finished the dram and posted the review. Then I noticed mesquite smoke had just permanently taken up residence in my sinuses. My Lord, I could live contentedly like this forever.

N: Soft peat mixed with fruity orange marmalade and toffee notes. Very perfumed smell. P: Syrupy in texture with sweetness and light spices followed by a smoldring peat smoke. F: Roasted peat and a savoury aftertaste. This one of the most smoothest and gentle finish, I've experience in a whiskey. This 18 year will have you reach another, in a matter of seconds.