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.
I am a big islay whisky drinker and owned almost every single release since 2015. This is a nice neat drink which is not as smoky but yet giving some spice essence. I disagree with all the bad reviews and I think that's quite value for money. If you wanted something more mature and intense, go for 18 or 25.
I have just been moved to email Bowmore to ask them to explain this appalling excuse for an ‘Islay’ malt. I am not usually an emailer or reviewer but when something so unpleasant assaulted my pallet (and particularly nose) I felt had to do something. Far worse than a standard cheap blend, sweet and sickly and awful on the nose. Only for Mixers and people you don’t like. Bowmore should issue a public apology for this crass (and no doubt successful) attempt to part travellers with their cash.
Everybody is looking for sweetness , spice blah blah...wait a minute. The world is not unique and it has to have different modes ryt?. Try this , it is surely different. If you dont like that doesnt mesnnitnis bad...your desired taste is different. So dont blame a unique whiskey! It's great and different from others.
I have had a loss of faith ; and then a recovery of faith. A kind friend ( non-whisky drinker) gave me a bottle of Bowmore 10 year old. It was terrible, for all the reasons previous postings have set out. I have such fond memories of Bowmore whiskies in the past, including visits to the distillery, that I just could not believe that this whisky emanated from Bowmore. Luckily, I had a bottle of Bowmore 12 year old with two inches of spirit remaining. I immediately sampled this to see if it was me or the Bowmore 10 was at fault in this matter. Reader - it was the 10 year old that was lacking. The 12 year old was gorgeous. The 10 year old is just a momentary fall from grace by Bowmore. Vivat Bowmore!
Aroma and taste is very unpleasant. Gasoline, plastic, foil. Undrinkable.
