Originally released for the Travel Retail market, this 10 year old Bowmore single malt is a marriage of Spanish oak Sherry casks and hogsheads, resulting in a fine balance between classic coastal Islay smoke and Sherried sweetness.
Salted pretzels, fruitcake and a pinch of cinnamon.
Flamed orange peel, sea salt, Cadbury Bournville.
Spiced rum warmth, with layers of toasted malt.
Bought this at the airport to offer to friends at my destination. I hadn’t tried it before but was attracted by the ageing in sherry casks and, having sampled it, was not disappointed. Delicious, unctuous and moreish ?.
I'm back. Recently I'd posted the 'I want my money back review'. I did end up mixing it with a half bottle of Dewer's which slightly took the edge off. The reason I'm posting again is that I'd just opened the second bottle of this fraud-in-a-bottle, I was hoping it was just a bad bottle - but the second is equally toxic. There is something distinctly horribly unpleasant in this spirit. What angers me is while JW Black is entirely pedestrian, it is consistent - it was on sale. In the end, should have just grabbed the Maker's Mark. Can never go wrong with American bourbon. Expensive mistake with not the slightest upside other than it being 40 proof spirits. Then again, so is Stag out if India which is precisely what this beverage reminds me of, cheap Indian subcontinent spirit.
When I first opened the bottle, it was truly awful. took like 4 drams over 2 weeks time to look if it gets better, but it didn't. I left the bottle in my closet to sit for about 4-5 months and then returned to it, now it it much better than before. Nose: Sherry, peat, smoked ham, smoked herring, sweet floral note binding everything together. Palate: Salty seawater, seaweed, peat, walnuts, dried orange peel, bittersweet floral note. Finish: Peaty smoke, salty mineral water, smoked herring, roses, oily mouthfeel, pecan, cashew, sweet floral note. it is decent but kind of lackluster. 40% abv and the huge amount of caramel coloring in this doesn't do it favor. I guess it can be successfully used in blends but tastewise - it is hit or miss. The initial impressions were probably 1/5 stars, after - about 3,5 so lets meet in the middle because it should be drinkable right away.
Don’t waste your money on this whiskey. Tastes very artificial. Nothing smoky about this one. Think am going to start using it in cocktails. Very disappointed
Bought not one but two bottles of this swill 2/99nzd. I'm so disappointed. It has an absolutely nasty taste and after taste. The after taste... it's something I've tasted before but can't nail it down. Almost petrochemicalish. Never buy another bottle of Bowmore again. Ghastly. I'd trade both bottles right now for standard bog Dewer's in a flash. I'm now mixing a ten year Scotch with soda water, before I'm done ill be mixing it with Coke. Dark - hidden in the janitors closest Intense - Intensely undrinkable
