Ctrexman
Bowmore 12 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
January 30, 2020 (edited April 2, 2021)
Another Islay smoky to try. Have read good reviews and been eying this for a while. Poured neat, nose has a bit but not overwhelming smoke. Has peat, black olive and lots of brine with some used pencil eraser shavings. Not picking up much sweetness, maybe some malt and bread notes. Palate is very salty with peat smoke, more olive and thin malt with a touch of vanilla. Finish of parched wood, olive, malt and peat with lingering smoke. I can confirm McLellands is the same juice just much younger. The oily diesel note is there only aged and seasoned. Its more dry and salty than any whisky ive had. Doesn't have the rich malt or sweetness buried in most Islays. Its a different profile for sure, not quite my cup of tea but I like it more as I go through the bottle.....its not bad (its still 12 yr single malt Islay) but at price paid ($44)there are many I prefer..........76/100..........If you like peat smoke, salt and olives this may be in your wheelhouse
44.0
USD
per
Bottle
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
@Ctrexman Not a huge fan of Bowmore, at least not of the OB's. Poor presentation (same as with Auchentoshan), and just another victim of overbranding and all this marketing BS. A pity.
@Whiskey_Hound ... whoops guess i was alittle too lubricated and forgot to move the star meter
@Soba45 I like the 12. It's good, not great. The 18 is fantastic. I've also tried the Small Batch but I couldn't tell you one thing about it. I've seen the vault series around, as well as the Dorus Mor and the one of two of the Devil's Cask releases. Let me know if you've tried any and if they're worth a buy. Sounds like you've got yourself a respectable lineup of Bowmore tastings ahead of you, man!
@Whiskey_Hound Bowmore done right is amazing. It starts getting good at 18. 25 yr isn't too bad, rest of their OBs average or worse. I'm still searching for the holy bowmore grail and I think i'm closing in. I procured samples of The Devil's Casks III - Double The Devil 56.7% 18 year The Vintner's Trilogy 52.5% I'm expecting great things! I had an IB Woodwinters ‘Isle Solera’ 16 Year Old 58.1% that I was sure it was Bowmore and that was fantastic!
Nice review! I'm a fan of Bowmore, though I think I'm in the minority around here. Definitely doesn't stack up to the Islay big boys though