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Bowmore 17-Year White Sands

46% ABV - Islay, Scotland

Nose: There is a very light smokiness covering some tropical fruits - like cutting open a pineapple, smoke rises from the flesh, and it’s made of oak! Ahem,... and marine air, tobacco or cigar, and ripe melon are present. I noted sulphur in my first sips after opening the bottle, but didn’t identify it in subsequent tastings. In fact, give it time and green fruits and apple take over.

Taste: The smoke gives way to more defined peat flavours, caramels, pine resin, and stewed fruits. Burnt orange. The flavours are fairly well defined and will dance with your tongue! It’s a wonderful taste and I think there are some layers still to discover.

Finish: The finish is long with ash, citrus, and light fruits - grapes, kiwi. It is a little bit drying and bitter, but has you reaching for more (or some water).

Wow, was I ever excited to see this on the shelf of a local private store! Bowmore 17 White Sands had previously been reserved for Travel Retail, and recently I have seen it roll out and available to the masses.

Last year I tasted an amazing Bowmore: a 21-year old single cask bottled under Douglas Laing’s Old Malt Cask series. And I was taken aback by the tropical fruity flavours that just punched through the layer of peat and smoke. I thought that I’d never get a taste of that again once that limited bottling sold out. With this 17-year expression I can get hints of the same flavours - but the peat smoke is more dominant and has somewhat muted the fruits. (Interestingly, I never got that layer of fruits from the Bowmore 18-year old... I’ll have to taste that again! As far as I know they are both ex-Bourbon matured.)

Tasted this one side-by-side with Laphroaig 15 – and wow, that is an enjoyable experience alternating between the two.

Get it while it lasts!

Tasted 13 January 2019, 21 February 2019. (Posted 9 March 2019).

90/100
Detailed Rating Information...

90+: Fantastic whisky; highly recommended.
My favourite whiskies – I might have more than one bottle if the price is right and the supply is limited! The higher values in this range will reflect a stronger balance and consistency between components.
85-89: Great whisky; recommended.
Whiskies that tick the flavour boxes and you'll likely hear about these from me. An easy decision to order at a bar/restaurant and one to consider buying a bottle of.
80-84: Very good whisky; recommended, but still consider trying before you buy.
Most of these whiskies I was really happy to have the opportunity to taste, but, apart from a dram here and there, I don’t think I would buy a bottle.
75-79: Good whisky; consider trying before you buy.
These are whiskies that I did enjoy drinking, but likely would reach for another bottle or select something different to order.
65-74: Average; consider trying before you buy, but not recommended.
There is nothing that stood out about this whisky and I might be inclined to mix it with soda or in a cocktail, instead of trying to enjoy its own flavours.
50-64: Bad; not recommended.
I didn’t like this and would sooner pass on another opportunity and order a beer instead than have it again… but never say never.


Whisky Bottle