Bowmore 1988

Name: Bowmore 1988
Brand: Bowmore
SKU: 7523
Rating: 89.02 (183 reviews)

Overall rating: 89.02/100
votes: 183

Whiskybase ID: WB7523
Category: Single Malt
Distillery: Bowmore
Bottler: Distillery Bottling
Vintage: 10.03.1988
Bottled: 2009
Stated Age: 21 years old
Casktype: Port Cask Matured
Number of bottles: 7200
Strength: 51.5 % Vol.
Size: 700 ml
Bottle code: L092098 15:15 082
Barcode: 5010494001981
Added on: 18 Apr 2009 8:08 pm

Average value

€ 554.00

Found 3 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 469.00

	Whisky-Raritäten Andermann	€ 529.00

	Amshop.de - Rare Whisky and Fine Spirits	€ 579.00

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Whisky Reviews for Bowmore 1988

27 users have left a review for this whisky and scored it an average of 89.02 points

Tommyknocker scored this whisky 93 points
16 Jan 2016 10:33 pm
What a bomb, extraordinary in every way: massive power and smoke for 21 years, extreme bitterness, maritime, and somewhere fruity. I have never had such a Portfass malt, nor such a wicked Bowmore. Almost a whisky catharsis! The opinions in my circle of friends vary widely, many come with this whisky not clear. I'm so glad I still have a bottle of it that I'll never sell!

Nose

Pure: an absolutely unique nose that I've never felt before. He smells already extremely bitter, lactose, bitter chocolate. In addition come old diesel oil, old tires, 80s workshop. But then again dark blackberry jam, strawberries. Above all, there is a filthy peat note with a stormy coastline, very smoky for old age and a Bowmore. Very complex and really fantastic! With a bit of water: the extreme notes go back a bit, dark forest honey is added and makes the whole thing a bit "wholesome", so it is not immediately afraid of the first sip :-)

Taste

Pure: At first one believes in a creamy, sweet onset, then follows after a few seconds a bitter fiery smoke explosion, which has an incredible power for old age! Also in the mouth extremely bitter chocolate (90 +%), then strawberry jam, but also tuna from the tin with salt crust. What a mix! And damn tasty. With a little water: still a lot of strength, I honestly hardly notice any change, maybe a little bit tart.

Finish

very long, chocolate, "good" bitterness, and dark cherry are hanging forever.
rottendon scored this whisky 71 points
21 May 2020 4:20 pm
So if you like this French Whore Perfume, you are in good hands here, although there are actually more intense representatives, whoever is allergic to it should definitely stay away from it, whoever has a relatively high tolerance should at least make sure, just in case to have something ready for rinsing. For me it would be an absolute top malt without the violets, but I feel no need for repetitions. I will keep something for demonstration purposes.

In fairness it should be mentioned here that the counter-test with a freshly poured and rather cool glass turned out to be much more bearable, everything was fine up to the point of departure and even then it only became very uncomfortable very late. Conclusion: pour out and tip behind the bandage, no breathing, no longer smelling, no hand warmth. But can it be?

Nose

90 90

At first, delicate smoke and fresh berries share the nose, looks very fresh and harmonious. After a while, it looks warmer and darker, which forms a wide carpet on which blackberries, currants, but also pears and bitter oranges lie. There is also a floral component, but at least it doesn't remind me of the famous French Whore Perfume. So far I don't find soap either. Heavily roasted potato chips and vanilla. And there it is, a swing of violet oil that really suppresses everything else at the moment, which is exactly the problem with it. A gentle touch would probably fit into the overall concept, but it's too intense for that. Interestingly, only occasionally, three breaths later, it has disappeared, but will come back later. With time, on the other hand, there is a certain olfactory blindness and the overall picture is again quite harmonious, but yes, this component is nasty. Mineral notes are warmed up, the violet oil is present, but less penetrating.

Taste

78 78

Oha, in the mouth it is a whole bit clearer and more penetrating, for me personally not so uncomfortable, at least not in the first sip, but whoever could not do that has lost here. Otherwise, the start is strong, the mouthfeel heavy and oily, the smoke is strong and a good dose of peat sweetness is also superficial. The unfolding of the aromas in the mouth is an impressive spectacle. There is a slight bitterness towards the end, while the violets slowly take on an unpleasant strength. In the second sip, they do that right from the start. I refrained from a third.

Finish

45 45

The finish is overwhelmed by the violet oil, besides there is only a disting and unpleasant bitterness. The finish is quite long, which is not an advantage in this case. Too bad, but this departure totally destroys the malt.
DiossUA scored this whisky 94 points
20 Nov 2015 11:47 pm

Nose : perfumery, raspberries, cut grass, smokiness, nuts and prunes (they start to dominate in 2 aroma phase), beets, suddenly aroma starts to pinch the nose, and then there is quite clearly a pot cat, however it quickly disappears
Taste : sweet, even more creamy raspberry, paint, perfumes, cotton candy - very powerful and unusual
Finish : long but mild: raspberry, cotton candy, little bit smoky BTW, water drops are prohibited
Conclusion : is it an Islay malt: prunes / nuts in nose and raspberry in taste? I am not sure. Very unusual malt, but solid and balanced.

Aroma : perfumery, raspberries, mown grass, smoke, nuts and prunes (they start to dominate in the 2nd phase of the fragrance), Buryak, suddenly the scent begins to pinch the nose, and after that the cat's pot is clearly visible, but it quickly disappears)
Taste : sweet, even more creamy raspberries, colors, perfumes, sweet wool, very powerful and unusual
Aftertaste: long, but soft: raspberry, sweet cotton, a little smoke By the way, water drops are contraindicated
Conclusion: Is it really Isla: prunes / nuts in the aroma and raspberry in taste? I'm not sure) A very unusual mole, but folded and balanced.
kallehaugedk scored this whisky 35 points
11 Sep 2017 11:37 pm
Horrible soapy thin overpriced French Whore

parfume! Yuk!
- Nose
  
  74 74
- Taste
  
  50 50
- Finish
  
  5 5
ASWhisky scored this whisky 70 points
27 Jun 2014 1:52 am
the false note may not afford a 21y at this price
Bowmore has repeatedly done no favor with it
I feel this whisky as inedible

Nose

Violet oil (soapy)
chocolate

Taste

clearly the wrong note violet oil again
which sticks unpleasantly to the palate
Chocolate and grapefruit
fruity notes
tingle & salty

Finish

medium,
fruity & salty maritime
the violet oil in the background clearly felt
malthead-sven scored this whisky 94 points
19 May 2016 8:41 pm
damn tasty, balanced and yet unique, I would blindly very likely recognize again. More sweetness than smoke, more ripe fruit and spiciness from the port barrel. Reminiscent of berries and lavender. 94/100

Nose

Blueberries, raspberries, woodruff, fruity chewy candy, the light and dry Bowmore smoke shimmers through, followed by dark, mushy strawberries, marble cakes, new leather seats in the car, licorice, plum jam, all the flavors are strongly interwoven

Taste

strong, yet gentle-mouthed, maritime and plump sweet, again many red fruit flavors, then clearly lavender

Finish

and again sweet, extremely mouthwashing, throat dragons candy, not as strong as in the mouth but incredibly long and elegant, later cinnamon and again lovely, for Bowmore typical lavender
herby.usa scored this whisky 93 points
07 Mar 2021 10:33 am
How often do you give 100 points or are you even allowed to do so? Well, every rating is individual and if the point range 0 - 100 is offered, you can give your personal rating (but recommend also to explain).

Nose

100 100

The port is there immediately.
But also delicate smoke aromas and slightly tart red berries. Sweetness / honey, vanilla and somehow flowery.
After wetting the entire glass inner wall, it is clear: Bowmore from the 80s (old school). The port is still powerful, but the scent of violets (soap) is present.
Little by little, maritime smells come to the fore. A constant interplay of maritime, port-heavy but also soapy caresses the nose (if you like all these smells like me).

The little feet slowly move their tracks in the glass - definitely a very oily / smooth / viscous drop!

Later with a little water: Everything is even more intense / voluminous.

Taste

100 100

After the drool from sniffing has run together in my mouth, I “sacrifice” myself for the first taste test. Wow, fruity, smooth / soft, typically Bowmore-smoky, chocolatey / mocha aromas and - yes - there is my favorite: Steam kettle (salty meets metal and causes a tingly mouthfeel) and lavender (oh how I love that!). Here, too, the constant interplay of the port aromas with the “original” typical Bowmore aromas (actually better taste).
Then there are wood notes that are more comparable to vanilla in coffee grounds. Definitely: The mucous membranes contract, but in a very positive sense (even if there is the feeling that “the mouth is drying out”).

Finish

100 100

Long sparkling maritime
Lavender keeps coming back
Coffee / mocha / chocolate in the background.

Conclusion: Tip top Bowmore (even if not purely bourbon cask matured). The port post-maturation with this guy is perfectly integrated without being dominant.

Important: bring your time, warm it up well (always hold the glass tightly) and let it work in the mouth according to the years (longer if you like).

It's a shame that the prices for a bottle are now totally exorbitant (lol but I still have one & a small sample).
krupoder scored this whisky 82 points
15 Jun 2020 5:51 pm

Aroma: spicy, wine, sweet, smoky, woody.
Empty glass of chocolate and nuts.
Taste: it is honored that the whisky is middle-aged, perfumery, smoky, soap with shampoo, flower bitterness along with sweetness, bread.
Aftertaste: long, tart, smoky, peppy, does not leave the feeling that you washed your mouth with laundry soap. In general, the taste continues.
This is not the whisky that you want to get for 400-500 euros, suitable for lovers of perfumery notes, for me it is a sign of cheap alcohol. I do not recommend drinking in small sips, with a large soapiness it becomes less noticeable.
Unfortunately, given the price, the age is only 82. I will give him 2 chance)))
IgorKuznetsov scored this whisky 50 points
02 Jun 2020 8:56 pm
21 port kask? Where? Thank you for the scent of French perfume. I don’t want any more such whisky.

Nose

60 60

The fragrance seemed to be kept in a barrel of good French perfumes. Chanel 5.

Taste

50 50

Taste as if chewing soap.

Finish

40 40

Finish????. It’s good that soap bubbles didn’t go out of my mouth
Whisky-Raritäten did not rate this whisky
26 Oct 2019 4:43 am
What a great Bowmore!

Nose

98 98

Taste

98 98

Finish

98 98

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