Bowmore 9

Intro:

This Bowmore is a combination of ex bourbon and oloroso sherry casks.

It is a limited edition and at the time of writing (Feb 2018) it has been discontinued, but they are still out there.....

 

Price: around 40 €/$/£

 

Coloured - Chill Filtered

 

40% ABV (alcohol by volume)

 

Nose:

In the front is a mixture medicinal and bonfire smoke, it's more medicinal then bonfire tho.

Then sherry, salt, sea spring, white pepper, hint of raisens, seaweed and rotten meat with some funk.

I think it is the distillery character.

It's young and vibrant but not lacking complexity or character.

The nose doesn't climb out of the glass. It's patiently waiting for you to sniff it out.

 

 

Palate:

Rich, light creamy mouthfeel.

 

It starts with rich cream then the funkiness comes with a little honey and vanilla sweetness. Then comes peat with sherry fruits, turning darker and complexer after a little while.

Coming with the sherry there is this basic Islay character, seaweed, a fresh seabreeze, tang etc.

After that there is a chocolate note with creamy caramel.

Mid palate there is some spiciness tingling the back of your tongue and cheeks.

In the back there's also a dark tea note.

Surrounding it all there is this funkiness with a little orange, I guess it's the distillery character.

The orange is not bitter, yet not sweet eather... interesting.

The palate is rich, alive and funky, everything that's the opposite of boring.

It is really rich for a 40% abv whisky, yet it's smooth as silk.

 

 

Finish/aftertaste:

After swallowing there is a hit of a fish type note and peat smoke comes back with a charcoal note.

The tingling spiciness and sherry fade away.

In the aftertaste there is a maltiness with honey sweetness.

There is a warm feeling in your stomach and rising up, making you all warm and fuzzy.

Later in the aftertaste I get that typical 'bourbon feeling', some dryness with honey and a reminder of vanilla.

 

Water:

Water changes this whisky quite a lot.

The main thing for me is that the finish gets a bigger hit of wood and fire.

The nose gets a little fresher but the peat is not gone, no sir!

The palate is more mellow, there are more orange and spice notes, the peat is less in the front.

It doesn't get watery or drowns. It can take it pretty good!

 

 

Summary:

this whisky is the perfect example of what a young whisky can be, a true masterpiece.

It's rich, alive, but really complex, I love it.

I could give it a solid 90 but I love it so much I will go the extra mile and give it a 95

It deserves that.

 

9.5/10(I gave it a 8.5/10 in the video but after some more time and thought it's a 9.5/10)