Bowmore Bw8 Elements of Islay
51.2% ABV - Islay, Scotland
Nose: Tropical fruits like pineapple and mango, white wine, sharp peat smoke and salt water. Crisp, green apple skin and hints of oak.
Taste: Lots of tropical fruit, orchard fruit, peat smoke and a bonfire on the beach.
Finish: Lasting smoke, hints of creosote or tobacco. The sweetness has mostly faded.
Overall, this is one of my favourite Bowmore whiskies. I really enjoy the tropical notes from full ex-Bourbon maturation—and I think that the barrel influence really starts to take over around this 16-Year and older range.
This bottle was fairly good value at $220 CDN, even when taking into account that the Elements of Islay series of whiskies at 500mL instead of the standard 700 or 750mL sizes. I have still seen it available on shelves (it was released in 2020) but the price has increased to a point where I’m happy to have had this one, and I will wait for other releases to come.
The general notes in this Bowmore tend to repeat with similar cask selection, so it’s the waiting game until another cask strength ex-Bourbon matured is released!
Details (Official): This multi-layered Bowmore is a vatting of whiskies distilled between 2001 and 2003. Left to age in ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry butts for sixteen to eighteen years, it showcases its classic true-Islay character through a window of tropical fruits and coastal freshness. 1320 bottles produced.
Tasting Notes (Official): Core flavours of citrus, tropical fruits, coastal brine, and smoke.
Tasted 24 September 2023. (Posted 29 October 2023.)
