Some distilleries seem to have a direct highway into your flavour sweet spot. Before you drink a dram, you know that you will enjoy it and quite possibly love it. Sadly, others seem to sit firmly in the other camp. Whatever they do, you just don’t get on with the flavour profile. Bowmore is for me, one of those drams. I just haven’t had anything that I am blown away by. They are never bad, just never as good as the drams that their neighbours produce.
Price: £30-35
ABV: 40%
Appearance: rich sherry colouration
Aroma: Sea salted caramel, swirled with charcoal smoked blackberries.
Taste: The first notes of this dram are smooth, sweet and fruity. There is a definite sherried quality, even if only for a short time.
The middle is all about the warming and lightly spicy quality of peat smoke. This smoke is very much dampened by a light, fruit syrup sweetness.
Abruptly, this dram seems to disappear. There are lingering notes of charcoal and dark coffee fruits, but they very quiet, only appearing in whispers. The more you drink it, the more enjoyable these latter notes become.
Mouthfeel: Light, smoky and sweet.
Overall: This is a very drinkable dram. There is a good level of peat, which mixes nicely with the sweetness and fruit of the sherry casking. It’s a little light on both charcoal and ABV for my tastes, but for some this may be a positive, as it could be a decent Islay introduction.
Real Dram Factor: 6.4
Source: Sample from Brian’s Malt Musings
More Information: www.bowmore.com
Buy Online: Master of Malt: 70cl Bowmore 9 Y0 – £24.95 or Amazon: 70cl Bowmore 9YO – £27.36