46,8°
Distillery : Bowmore - Islay
American Oak Ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry Casks, 1st Fill Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish
Original Bottling
Core Range
Single Malt
Launched in 2024
Unchillfiltered
Peated around 25 ppm
I’d missed this one when it was released, two years ago. It’s time to rectify that oversight. There are other Bowmore 21-year-olds in their original bottlings, but they’ve always eluded me. This one is very sherry-forward, having been initially matured partly in Oloroso casks and finished in Pedro Ximénez casks. Unlike the other expressions in the Sherry Oak Cask series, it is stated that it is unchillfiltered, however there is no mention of whether or not it has been coloured.
Let's Taste It :
A very fruity nose, blueberries, blackberries and redcurrants, alongside varnished wood, forest and copper notes, with a backdrop of peat. Charcoal and dark chocolate, raspberry coulis, soft caramel. A few grains of salt, ginger. On the palate, more red fruits, barely fermented, damson plums and blackcurrants, in addition to those already mentioned, subtle spices, cloves, nutmeg, dates and dried figs. A very long finish, tobacco and liquorice, a touch of coffee, forest shadows, acorns and ferns. Black earth, wood and mushrooms. Very slight bitterness.
In Short,
To be honest, it’s very good, on a par with the 18-year-old Deep and Complex, except that the latter is peatier, more mineral, and therefore more typical of Bowmore, whilst this one is fruitier, more oaky, but less characteristic of the distillery. The main difference is the price, this one costs three times as much as the Deep and Complex, for just three more years’ ageing. I’d like someone to explain that to me.
Score : 89
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Mary in the Junkyard - Crash Landing
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