Bowmore 10-Year Inspired by the Devil’s Cask
46% ABV - Islay, Scotland
Nose: It’s sweet right from the start with dark summer fruits, hard candies (cherry), and juicy raisins. Lots of spices paired with mild citrus and smoke. Time brings woody, musty, mineral, mild tropical flavours.
Taste: Though not as complex as the nose, the initial hit of black cherries, ripe nectarine, grape jelly, and citrus matches the rich sweetness. Again, some tropical fruits might be underneath - guava, pineapple - this dram has tart characteristics. Spices, white pepper, mild peat smoke.
Finish: Fading peat smoke, stewed fruits, citrus, spices, and cough drops.
I am a HUGE fan of the Bowmore 10 Devil’s Cask trilogy, and this one pays a great homage. I like the direction that Bowmore has taken, with the additional casks, to put a fingerprint on this whisky. As per the label, “a marriage of the finest Oloroso Sherry and wine casks” – notably, the original series were only sherry matured.
Unfortunately, this expression was only destined for travel retail - but,... that also made for a 1L bottling! This is likely one of those whiskies that once it’s gone, it’s gone. I picked it up at the Sydney Airport in 2018 when I was on a work trip for AUS $100, which, in my books, makes for great value. Whenever I find a bottle that sparks as much joy as this, I squirrel about 4oz into a small Boston round when I feel the flavours are peaking - this is somewhat in reference to being aware of the oxidation when headspace increases significantly. Now I’ll be able to open that weeks, months, or years down the road and have another experience. My favourite whiskies have a tendency to be shared and emptied a little faster than others!
The last thing I’ll comment on here is how much the 46%ABV is working for this whisky! I felt that water had little effect, and that some flavours are susceptible to drowning, so I’ve primarily had this neat. But the rich and deep flavours are quite pleasing and it doesn’t have me wishing it were cask strength. (For the record, I would never say no to cask strength…)
Tasted 28 January 2019. (Posted 30 January 2019.)
