Bowmore 2001 The Character of Islay Whisky Company 18 yo c. 11714

 

 

 

55,4°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay

Refill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By The Character of Islay Whisky Company 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

This independent bottler’s existence was short-lived, four years at most, but each of its releases is legendary. This is particularly true of the Bowmore whiskies, which alone account for a third of the company’s production. This 18-year-old whisky was matured in a single refill bourbon cask, with a total of 184 bottles produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Iridescent iodine, sculpted limestone, with a lovely sea breeze, seaweed and exotic fruits. Dried hay, very fine and light peat, marine character, accompanied by oysters and razor clams. A very subtle trace of vanilla. Damp rock, sea foam, surf. Grapefruit and pineapple. On the palate, the fruit is more pronounced, citrus, banana, yellow plums, white peaches, but the maritime character remains strong, scallops, mussels, a few spices, varnished wood. The finish is long and gradually builds in intensity, lime zest, bamboo, nutmeg, dried tobacco, lumps of charcoal, beach sand, a pinch of bitterness.

 

In Short, 

It’s obviously excellent, and I’m actually convinced that it’s thanks to bottlings like this that Bowmore has once again become a leading distillery. It used to rely too heavily on extravagant casks, sherry, wines of all kinds, and people had forgotten the quality of its spirit. In my view, it was this company that released these Bowmores in simple refill bourbon casks and restored the distillery to its former glory. That said, the price is still high for what it is, making it suitable only for die-hard fans and the very wealthy. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                     To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                     Milton Andersen - Lilac Flowers

Bowmore 2002 The Character of Islay Whisky Company 18 yo c. 11717

 

 

 

52,8°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay

Refill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By The Character of Islay Whisky Company 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

Created in 2019 within the Atom Brands group, The Character of Islay Whisky Company is looking for juices coming only from this island which is nicknamed The Mecca of Whisky. Here we have an 18-year-old Bowmore, aged simply in a Bourbon Refill cask, which gave a total of 182 bottles. It is part of The Stories of Wind & Wave range, which is not mentioned on the bottle.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Crystalline, salty, marine nose. Fish and kelp, very Bowmore. Peat at first a little rough, then softer, with an almond nuance. It is mineral, even metallic. Iodine, sea breeze, but very subtle. Some white fruits, vanilla and juicy pears. Lychee. Very smooth palate, lemon and grapefruit, olive oil, the spices rise slowly, cumin, cloves, pepper. Iron filings. Long and explosive finish, woody, nutmeg, forestry earth, acorns, heather, chestnut leaves. Lemon pulp at the very end.

 

In Short, 

A beautiful Bowmore, fairly classic, salty and marine, slightly fruity and spicy. I didn't taste it alone, and my comrades found lots of things in it that I didn't find, exotic fruits and a nice mellowness. Hence, I am not sure that my review is the best possible for this product, but it is mine. I tasted it several times, in different settings, there is no possible doubt, that's what I felt. The price seems too high to me, but maybe, given what I missed, is the right one.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Joshua Quimby - Kate McCannon

Ardbeg 2004 The Character of Islay Whisky Company 15 yo

 

 

 

54,9°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Refill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By The Character of Islay Whisky Company

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

The Character of Islay Whisky Compagny is a very young independent bottler which appeared in 2019 under the leadership of Atom Brands, also owner of That Boutique-y, Drinks by the Dram, Darkness... And even the online sales site Master of Malt. Within 'The Stories of Wind and Wave' range, they sell premium Single Casks sourced only from the Isle of Islay. Here a very nice 15 year old Ardbeg aged in a single second fill Bourbon cask, which should give the full measure of the distillate. The number of bottles produced is 166 according to the Hard to Find Whisky website, but the bottle pictured here is numbered 167, so there must be a bit more.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Huge explosion in the nose and in the mouth. The peat insinuates itself into all the orifices within its reach. Smoky, ashy, vegetal, grassy. With a touch of minerality and seaweed. Greenish waves, tide, foam, kelp. Citrus hints, then come exotic fruits, banana, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple. Palm heart. Clementine. Grape whose juice squirts. Sandy beach, the sea recedes. Shells, knives, whelks. The palate is more vanilla-like, but remains very coastal, seafood, fish, escabèche sauce, bouillabaisse. Beautiful spices, black pepper, cumin, nutmeg. Charcoal, which holds its own on the finish, very long, very well done, a whale stranded on the shore, gravel, liquorice, vergeoise coulis. Cashew nut.

 

In Short, 

Excellent bottling, it's the quintessence of Ardbeg, its exact DNA, and in addition it is very violent. Just the mouth is very slightly below, it's a shame because the nose and the finish are perfect, precisely what I expect from an Ardbeg aged in a Bourbon barrel. I believe that with this maturation, and at this age, you can hardly do better. It is still found on some sites, the price is certainly very high, but it corresponds to the market unfortunately.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Motörhead - Born to Raise Hell

Octomore 2011 The Character of Islay Whisky Company 9 yo

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By The Character of Islay Whisky Company 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

At The Character of Islay Whisky Company, a trading company created in 2019 within Atom Brands, only the nectar of the mythical island is allowed. And when it comes to Octomore, that of course attracts attention. For this bottling, the juice was kept in a first fill Bourbon cask for 9 years before being released into the wild in 315 copies within the 'The Stories of Wind and Wave' range. It is indeed presented as a cask strength, even if the alcohol content at precisely 50° may seem suspicious. The peat content is not known.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very creamy, syrupy, well-bourboned nose, with pear pulp and sweet vanilla. Nice intense peat, gritty, almost solid smoke, chalky charcoal, oozing limestone, mineral and grainy touches. Iodine, shortbread biscuits, black earth. Light floral touches. Palate a little watery, light, but very well made, complex, on vanilla, lemon, with a good slice of peat which seems candied, tart tatin, sooty roots. Strong but managed spices, cumin, paprika, star anise. brown sugar. Long, excellent, explosive finish, everything you expect from an Octomore, charcoal, earth, some sunny cereals, mint leaves.

 

In Short, 

It's very good, the finish especially is powerful and pleasant, almost devastating but comfortable at the end. On the other hand, the nose is a little too Bourbon for my taste and hides the Octomore hallmarks, and the palate is light. It's a shame, but it's still a very nice bottling, the price of which is frankly overvalued.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Lovebites - Holy War

Ardbeg 2001 The Character of Islay Whisky Company Selected by La Maison du Whisky 18 yo

 

 

 

54,5°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay 

Refill Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By The Character of Islay Whisky Company

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

In 2019, the Atom Brands group founded The Character of Islay Whisky Company, a trading company dedicated to promoting the best nectars from the mythical island. In addition to a regular range, there is a collection of rarities called 'The Stories of Wind & Wave', including this beauty specially selected by La Maison du Whisky and divided into just 92 bottles. It went on sale in 2020.

Let's Taste It : 

Thick, fairly heavy smoke. Powerful despite its eighteen years. Accompanied by a sea breeze, fine salt, rocks glistening in the sunlight, quartz, jasper, dry sand. I'm on a heavenly beach, just a little kelp, my feet in the foam, my hands caressed by the sea air. Palm trees. Otherwise it's quite sweet, pineapple, lemon tears, lychee. Whipped cream. Mille-feuilles. Behind lies a damp, muddy peat, silt and lichen. Wet dog. Leathery. Like a minty freshness. Gypsum. Liège waffle, Grand Marnier, speculoos. Ashy vanilla. Chlorine. On the palate, the lemon comes through, with a maritime flavour, iodine, oysters, whelks, then a few spices, cumin, paprika, just the right amount. After a while it becomes as fine as silk, a very soft, refined oil. A hint of salt. The finish is slow to explode but very long, still with seafood, crab, boutargue, fruity Cantal cheese, light charcoal, and to finish, coconut ice cream, peppermint. A drop of liquorice.

 

In Short, 

My score may be a little high, but I'm a big fan of this distillery, and I have to admit that I loved it. The palate is particularly pleasant, both oily and very subtle. It's a great success, certainly one of the best Ardbeg's on the market for twenty years. A must-have if you're a fan of the distillery as I am, provided you have an understanding banker.

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Soundgarden - Jesus Christ Pose

Aerolite Lyndsay 10 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay 

Bourbon Barrels and Spanish Sherry Quarter Casks

Independent Bottling 

By The Character of Islay Whisky Company 

Core Range

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

 

 

 

Atom Brands is a major company that owns the Master of Malt online shop and The Boutique-y Whisky trading company. In 2019, they launched a second trading company, The Character of Islay Whisky Company, specifically dedicated to the development of this island dubbed the Mecca of whisky. And their first bottling is this one, a 10-year-old from a secret distillery on the island, Aerolite Lyndsay being an anagram for Ten Year Old Islay. Maturation is 70% in bourbon casks, 25% in Spanish sherry casks and 5% in 'mystery' casks. Beautiful transparency.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Thick, misty peat. Granite. Behind, a rather sweet hint of vanilla. Vanilla custard, icing sugar. Wide wisps of fatty smoke. Tide, seaweed, a dash of brine. Iodine. Fresh breeze on a beach in the Baltic Sea. Coarse salt. Dust. Pepper. Graphite. Suave on the palate, the vanilla is back, still sweet, with a few spices, cumin, nutmeg, chives. A metallic note, iron filings. Green olives. Gravelly finish, charcoal, dry earth, rather long and quite powerful. Liquorice.

 

In Short, 

Overall, it's not bad at all, it's even a little more than that. If the nose seems conventional and lacks intensity, the finish seems pleasant, not so short and tasty. But it's still a little austere. I'm thinking of a peaty Bunnahabhain, or perhaps a slightly rustic Bowmore. First released as a limited edition, it's now a regular range product, very easy to find, at a decent price. Why not try it?

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Sufjan Stevens - Should Have Known Better