Bowmore 18-Year
43% ABV - Islay, Scotland
Nose: Starting quite sweet with cooked fruits, compote on top of fresh orchard fruits, it quickly develops some depth and complexity with notes of cherrywood, sweet chocolate, burnt orange, light smoke, and leather. Slight floral character milling around, but not well defined.
Taste: The sweeter ex-Sherry notes hit first with a wave of peat smoke that stands up to dried fruit, plum, orange, citrus, and Baker’s chocolate.
Finish: Does this get sweeter as we go along? Honey, caramel, and fruits, with a background light-medium smokiness and a wine-soaked woodiness. The finish is probably the weakest part of this dram as it tapers off fairly thin with a floral or peach flavour—which I do like, but it feels a bit watered even at 43%.
I always love myself a good pour of Bowmore! I spotted this older label bottle in a shop and debated it for about a day before going back and buying it. I picked it up, if for no better reason than, to complete my "box collection" of the core range—yes, that’s right… "box collection". I have saved all of my Bowmore (and Laphroaig) packaging. Not sure why… because they aren’t displayed. This is what I do though. That is the collector in me.
But for the whisky in hand, I was quite impressed with how much flavour I pulled out of this dram because the first time I had it, I instantly dismissed it and thought I’d never buy a bottle. It didn’t have any oomph to speak of. Now that I’ve sat down with the Bowmore 18-Year a few times, and especially when I’ve poured this side-by-side another expression, it does balance the taste:value ratio. Despite the rating I’ve selected for this, I’d lean more towards try-before-you-buy. I can’t see this one being for everyone, but I must say that its flavour profile is very accessible—i.e. nothing offensive or off-putting and a good whisky to try early on in your own journey.
The mahogany liquid (see "official notes" below) has me convinced of its quality and I expect that I’ll replace this one. At least once, to complete the newer label box collection, right?
Details: Bottled c.2016.
Tasting Notes (Official): On the eye mellow mahogany. Breathe in classic Bowmore smokiness, perfectly tempered with creamy caramel, chocolate and ripe fruit aromas. Sip beautiful soft fruit and chocolate balanced with a light smokiness – incredibly complex. Savour the long and wonderfully balanced finish.
Tasted 09 February, 29 March 2021. (Posted 01 September 2021.)
