A 15 year old released in January of 2007 from the legendary Bowmore distillery in Islay, finished in Sherry casks, imparting a rich sweetness that blends well with the peaty elements.
Dark and punchy. Sherry notes, juicy Corinth raisins. Spices. Creamy, mochaccino, sweet dates.
Rich, woody, pine oil. Syrupy. Lovely, creamy toffee and malt. Smoky.
Spicy, toffee, sherry, barley.
Completly awsome compared to the Bowmore 12 yo, which is horrible
Whereas Bowmore 15 will not necessarily make your eyes water upon first swill like Lagavulin with its almost overly robust peaty taste, it (Bowmore) does deliver a smoother, more velvet-like, slower after-burn that lingers on the palate. I thoroughly enjoy the rough-hewn experience of Lagavulin in the winter - nothing else warms and satisfies like it. I enjoy it and any good Islay Single Malt for the same reasons my wife and I enjoy a very hardy Cabernet - a libation can't be too robust given a chill in the air. That said, I've grown weary of chasing the increasingly over-bid price of Lagavulin 16 and the abject mishandling of the supply by the distillery (which was probably by design to drive-up the pricing). So, following the counsel of the Dining Room Manager at my club, I tried Bowmore 15 as a viable substitute-come-rival of Lagavulin - AND, I've not been disappointed. It's a good Islay Single Malt worth the modest increase in price. And as with most Single Malts, it couples well with a good cigar. Cheers!
Sick of spending 100.00 plus on bottles of Lagavulin, try Bowmore Darkest... I was looking for a cheaper alternative and I want to tell you... This really gives the more expensive Lagavulin 16 a run for its money... Depending on your taste it's as good or better.. definitely a smoother finish...You just can't go wrong here..
My first impression of this was not great as I thought the sherry character was quite aggressive but now I've familiarised myself with it I think this is a superb whisky. There is plenty of smoke up front then the wonderfully rich body takes over, then the smoke returns for the finish, it’s quite unlike anything I've had before. Huge flavour and complexity, brilliant.
The notorious smoked apple juice theme meets sickeningly sweet sherried malt. What a horror show! I'll stay with other Islay malts.
