Bowmore No. 1

Bowmore tasting evening at The Oak Barrel, Sydney, June 26th 2019: Whisky #1 Nose: The first aromas are mild lemon and brine, then light vanilla and cereal notes emerge together with a fragile smoky presence. If you were being generous you could describe it as a delicate nose, but I thought it simply lacked presence. There is an unfortunate aroma of cardboard or plywood in the background. Palate: The palate is a reprise of the nose, having an arrival that is mildly salty and citric with a smidge of peat followed by a development of dry cereal flavours. The same sawdusty / reconstructed wood-pulp character shows up again and then more brine emerges and the dryness veers towards sour tannic notes. Adding water provides some balance by developing sweetness but it also conjures a soapy taste, and the palate is very easy to drown. The texture is rather flat. Finish: Very short. One moment the development is gently fading and the next there is nothing. The profile is classic Bowmore but this expression seems muted and lacking in verve, as though it has been over-diluted. It’s a simple, even generic, malt and while there are not any particularly off notes neither are there any particularly impressive ones. It does have a clean, fresh presentation but to be honest at this price you can do better. “Average” : 78/100 (2.75 stars)

Called No.1, this Bowmore honours a famous vault in the distillery, which happens to be the oldest in Islay, allegedly. Bowmore is indeed the oldest still working distillery on Islay, since its foundation in 1779. Bowmore is not my favorite distillery from the most famous whisky island of the world; and i actually believe it is not very peaty and most of its expressions are just normal. This one has been bottled at 40%abv, light gold color. On the nose, this is a typical Bowmore expression matured in american white oak. Horse saddle, coffee, coconut, burnt tires, horse stable, burnt hay, latex, muscle liniment, men's bathroom. On the palate, it is coconut water. It is incredible how accurate this coconut water note is. The problem here is that it is way too light and watery. Barley and... a dollar bill. It tastes like licking cash. (I know you haven't licked a dollar bill, but YOU KNOW HOW IT TASTES LIKE). Aftertaste drops the ball a little. Chemicals, sawdust and ashtray. Light and short finish. Overall, i believe this whisky starts amazing, with a great aroma, but then the palate fails to deliver the promise of the nose, and then the aftertaste fails to reach a decent score. Not a bad dram, you can definitively get something better for your money, (this bottle is not very expensive though). My score for it is 77 over 100.

I'm judging this based on price. I paid £20 against an rrp of around £32. The 12 year old, especially on offer, is a decent everyday drop. The whisky is comforting and pleasant with that touch of smoke to keep the toper interested. I like it. Number 1 is the same but so much less. The nose is benign. There is a bit of smoke and a nibble of vanilla. The taste is (top note) peat (mid note) vanilla and generic sweet. There is little from then on. The aftertaste revisits smoke and there's a nudge of youthful alcohol burn (it is NAS). Then... Well, it just ends. A timid drink designed to be inoffensive and as such is a success. Most punters will enjoy it. Number 1 is a decent first foray into Islay. I would be disappointed had I paid the higher price.

Got this one for about 26 bucks, so I got a nice deal, but I am not expecting a superb experience. The nose brings pleasant subtle peat smoke, vanilla, salty brine, woody notes, and floral properties. The mouth coat is thin, and the 40% ABV is a bit of a downer. The palate is good though, especially for the price. Milk chocolate, maritime brine, vanilla, honey, a touch of wood and peat smoke on the palate as well. Doesn't blow your socks off, but definitely a really nice economical daily sipper. It's a 3.0, and the theme is going to be "Sailing" by Christopher Cross. Not normally available in the USA, but worth a look.

Lime, seaweed, peat smoke, and new leather on the nose. On the palate, more lime and leather, along with apricot, iodine, and lots of pine. Round mouthfeel; long finish. A little bit of burn – but it dissipates quickly. 3.50/5.00 – Impressive (neat)

Pas mauvais, mais léger. Ne reste pas en bouche très longtemps. Sent l’alcool en nez, sans pour autant en avoir les consequences en bouche. Un peu citronné. Un bon produit de semaine. Évalué lors de la soirée Bowmore avec M. Drolet en 2020-07.