Back for some more of that Bowmore. The not-so-amazing core range was one of my first horizontals on the blog (#13-16), followed up by a special 25yo release (#32), and then over a year later some special Bowmore blends (and one not so special, #200). Tonight’s roster sports a rather random trio of 2cl Bowmore samples that I bought from Simple Sample for the price of €20. Funnily enough, they were distilled in three separate decades…
Bowmore | 21yo (1989/2011) | 51.2% | QV.ID
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Scotch single malt
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bourbon hogshead
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unchillfiltered & natural color
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Uncommon on the auction market; sells for < €300
from a 2cl sample bottle
🗒️ Tasting notes
Nosing: I get principally tropical fruit, vanilla, and maritime themes: ripe kiwi, pineapple, grapefruit, vanilla, cream soda, sea shell, a little iodine and sulphur, oak. No overt peatiness. With time some floral and grassy notes develop. It does have an old-age complexity, and outdoorsy character that’s hard to describe (are we perhaps in Spain a late summer evening?).
Sipping: very dry mouthfeel, with well-integrated alcohol. Cedar wood, cigar box, vanilla pod, Manchego cheese. Some yellow fruits are there but not running the show. Not a remarkably long or interesting finish.
💭 Comments
It’s really good, but I would have loved a lot more of that tropical fruit on the palate!
Deliciousness
Fun factor
Value for money
In a nutshell
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A dignified Bowmore evoking memories of late summer nights in a faraway coastal town
Bowmore | “Mashmen’s Selection” | 14yo (1999/2013) | 55.7% | Official
from a 2cl sample bottle
🗒️ Tasting notes
Nosing: Lots of citrus and buttery vanilla, plus a coastal minerality. Vacillates between freshness (seashells, fresh laundry) and mild funk.
Sipping: Briny and juicy, with lots of yellow fruits (apricots, mirabelles). More dry than sweet, amplified by an ashy quality.
💭 Comments
Actually, the nose is too curd-y for me. But the palate strikes a nice balance of fruity, funky, phenolic.
Deliciousness
Fun factor
Value for money
In a nutshell
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Fruity funky curd.
Bowmore | “Feis Ile 2015” | 12yo (2002/2015) | 59.6% | Official
🌐
Scotch single malt
🪵
oloroso sherry cask
🔆
unchillfiltered
💲
Uncommon on the auction market; sells for > €300
from a 2cl sample bottle
🗒️ Tasting notes
Nosing: fruits and funk, with a nice sherry overlay: sour cherries, overripe papaya, brioche, hazelnuts, vanilla, sheep’s wool, something herbal.
Sipping: briny and honeyed. Coffee, milk chocolate, papaya.
💭 Comments
… presumably there’s something more to say here, but I forgot about it and went to bed! T’was a nice dram though.
Deliciousness
Fun factor
Value for money
In a nutshell
⚫🟡🟢
⚫🟡⚫
🔴⚫⚫
A satisfying flavour bomb
The net effect of this tasting is that Bowmore is rising in my book! The tropical fruits, the funk, the light touch of peat — I get why some extoll Bowmore as something special. But not all Bowmore bottlings (and certainly not the current core range) show off these desirable qualities…
DuckDrams 
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