hs305 scored this whisky 90 points 
[September, 2019] Bowmore performed a glorious comeback after its dark period (from end-seventies to end-eighties with unimpressive, heavily perfumed-soapy and flawed spirits) from 1989 onwards and so far I found no sign of weakening. That is why I look forward to this single cask release distilled in 2002...
...and yes, it is another high-quality and dangerously quaffable dram. It offers an adorable combo of sweet malty and bitter maritime-peaty notes which form a flawless tasty profile. It is not as complex as the sixties and early seventies Bowmore but who knows what will happen after another ten maturation years? I can easily imagine great stuff then...
...and yes, it is another high-quality and dangerously quaffable dram. It offers an adorable combo of sweet malty and bitter maritime-peaty notes which form a flawless tasty profile. It is not as complex as the sixties and early seventies Bowmore but who knows what will happen after another ten maturation years? I can easily imagine great stuff then...
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The colour is pale gold and the nose offers an immediately impressive bold profile of both sweet barley sugary and maritime peaty notes in a balanced setting. There are many other aromas too, like resin, waxes, leather, used bandages, shy fruits and honeys, pine needles, a hint of salt, and and and... Quite interesting to explore and to be honest: This reminds me rather of an old Caol Ila (30+years) than a 20-years Bowmore. After some breathing nice chalky (coquina) and seawood impressions enrich this nose further.
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The taste is not really layered, unfortunately but composed of great flavours. Again sweet barley notes (cookies) and bitter peaty-smokey flavours play the leading roles supported by oily, autumn floral (wet haystacks), spicy and earthy notes. It is not as complex as the nose but very quaffable. After some chewing the waxes and resins show up as well. By the way, I just read the official tasting notes and like so often with Cadenhead I can not comprehend them, but who cares... Not as long as the stuff is that good! Water releases paraffin in the nose (that overpowers all the other aromas now) and it flattens both taste and finish. I like the neat dream best.
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The dram arrives warming on the palate and instantly coats the whole of the mouth with a creamy texture without any distracting moments. I like that! The finish is long and turns more to the bitter side which is fine given the overall profile. There are more of the peaty-smokey impressions (drinking green tea at a bonfire on an Islay beach), actually it is much more peaty than the usual Bowmore releases. But the sweeter flavours always ensure a balance on my taste buds and again there are no distracting drying or astrigent moments (apart from the bonfire smoke).
