The heart of the Bowmore range, the 12 year old exhibits some beautiful coastal notes with a gentle peat, it is the balance that the floral element presents that makes this a great entry bottling for Bowmore.
Coastal smoke and ash soon make way for bergamot, orange zest, lemon slices and some hay before becoming rather floral, heather smoke now competing with the ash.
Lovely and rounded, honeyed even, initially. Vanilla, perfumed smoke and coastal elements develop. Dark Peat. Blossom, oily sweetness.
Smoky and long. Sea spray, dry grass, a touch of ash and citrus.
Classic stuff and the heart of the Bowmore range. Smoky, fruity, coastal, delicious.
I really like this. New to whiskey tastes. I love [gin] from Islay, The Botanist, and saw this option from Islay. I love Knappogue, from Ireland and this is completely different. I do taste peat with sone floral notes and a bit of bite. Wish bartenders would understand what a really warm glass does to open up these beautiful notes.
Lots of subtle flavours combining with enough peat to create a very well-balanced and enjoyable dram. Would buy again.
Nose presents a burst of Islay sea breeze and iodine overtones. Not as much citrus fruit and honey as described by the distiller's notes on the box, although such flavours become somewhat noticeable towards the throat. The palate moves away from an initial saltiness towards a honeyed floral state. The whisky then transitions into a long smooth delightfully peaty finish. Overall good value, but not peaty enough for those who enough far more phenolic drams such as Laphroaig and Caol Ila.
Compared to the 18 year this is a little bit rough but for the price? Yes please! I've tasted both 12 year, 15 darkest and the 18 year old. This dram takes the 2nd place.
Great wee dram! Could take on any other single malt from Islay... Love how it moves from sweet to smoke.
