Bowmore 1996 The Single Malts of Scotland 23 yo

 

 

 

56,1°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay 

Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

Elixir Distillers purchased at least 4 casks of Bowmore in 1996. They went on sale between late 2018 and early 2022. The maturation is not always the same, there are mainly Bourbon casks, but for this one there is a sherry cask. It waited 23 years and 7 months before being launched worldwide in 634 copies.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Iodine crystals, salt slates, oysters, scallops, whelks. A hint of vanilla, thick peat to give it depth. A northern beach in the early morning, the tide rising. Foam, kelp, seaweed, sea spray. Chasselas grapes, mirabelles not quite ripe. It's rocky, mineral. On the palate, it's soft, silky, on greengages, but very quickly the spices rise, cumin, paprika, nutmeg, clove. Behind, humus, black earth, peat in bothe hands. It's really deep and very well-balanced. Powerful, very long finish, oily ginger, shrimps, cashew nuts. Crushed almonds.

 

In Short, 

I really liked this very iodised profile, it was like a Caol Ila, but softer, with finer peat. Very marine, the Sherry is discreet. The finish in particular is really nice. You can still find it, however the price is really crazy, it's the kind of bottles you have to buy the month of its release, or even the week.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Osees - Sticky Hulks