Bowmore Small Batch

Bowmore Small Batch was discontinued a few years ago. Admittedly, this is the only reason I grabbed it. Otherwise, there was nothing distinguishing enough about this 40% single malt to warrant a purchase. Let's see if Bowmore made the right move when they decided to drop this from their lineup. Nose: Ashy peat and sea salt. Rubber and candlewax. Seaweed and turf. Vanilla and honey. A nice touch of mint chocolate, caramel, and fudge. Maybe some grape. Sounds great, but it's a little disjointed. Shallow as well. Not bad, but not exciting. Palate: Vanilla, honey, and caramel. A touch of earthy peat and smoke. Ash. Black pepper, grapefruit, and lemon. It's on the bitter side. A touch of iodine. There's a sun-dried tomato note that I get in a lot of youngish peated malts. Salted pretzel and hookah. Much like the nose, it has solid notes, but isn't cohesive and doesn't excel in any one area. Finish: Black pepper, cinnamon, and soft pretzel. Lime and grapefruit. Toward the end its all rubber. Short. Uneventful. Which leads me to my score. 2.25. Was Bowmore wrong to discontinue this one? No. It's an unremarkable whisky that fails to make any impression. Here in the States, there are a ton of bourbons that are cheaper and significantly better. There are Scotches I can buy today that are substantially better at the same cost. Hell, Bowmore 12 will me an extra 11 bucks and is leaps and bounds ahead of this. With all that being said, I'm not upset with my purchase. I've got here a little piece of Islay history. And hey, it's drinkable. This is spilled milk. There's no use in crying about the fact that you won't be able to drink it.

The frigid temperatures continue to have me craving the smoky stuff. Picked this up to see if a quality Islay malt can be had for less than $40. Smoke and some fruit on the nose. A hint of salt. Full bodied mouthfeel. On the palette, there is spice and a hint of vanilla, a hint of citrus, a hint of sea air, the key word here is "hint." It's all overwhelmed by an unpleasant spent charcoal smoke. Nothing like a campfire. Caramelized sugar on the finish but it fades into some sourness. Just seems young and unfinished, will not re-purchase. The Glasgow blend from Great King St. is a better value at this price point.

This is like the little brother of the Ardbeg 10, that is, what I imagine Ardbeg might taste like if it were released young. The nose is coal-smoked golden delicious apples. The palate follows with crisp and grilled apples, grilled with herbs spices: oregano, salt, pepper, and vietnamese cinnamon, and a burnt pecanwood closing tone. The finish is a lingering charred wood and burnt sugar under a blanket of warm pepper sauce. After a bit of air time, the oiliness of the texture increases, the edges of the spice and charred wood are smoothed out and better coalesced with the herb, spice, malt, and smoke.

A pleasant surprise. Nose is easily appreciable with a medium amount of delicious peat (more island-style, e.g. twiggy smoldering cedar vs. lit swamp gas). Also a little vegetal note like roasted brussel sprouts. Palate shows crisp and fruity before dousing you with a lash of salt spray, somewhat ragged and incoherent. Finish is intense, hot and to the point (short), although a sweet charcoal note stays to console you. Reminds me of the blend Black Bottle. Sample graciously supplied by my good friend Rob, his contribution to our last whisky tasting. Dry glass: beach bonfire.

★★★★½ We love the Bowmores, but now we're pushing the envelope. Dear Diary... We love the Bowmores, but this time we're pushing the envelope. There is everything in this bottle, it is exactly like these Scottish islands constantly threatened by the inexhaustible intensity of the powerful waves. The first feeling that comes to shake you up and this comforting heat and so look for after a long cold and wet day spent working tirelessly outside. An unnamed weight is coming off your shoulders and you know that you are enjoying life at this very moment.

I was pleasantly surprised at this NAS expression. I love Bowmore 12, but didn’t have high hopes for this one. First off it doesn’t taste young. Nose of light honey, fruit, spice, very slight peat. The palate is a little confused. Maybe because I’m wanting the 12 experience, but it’s very pleasant. Like the nose but with some heat, but not an alcohol heat. It’s not bitter. Sweet with a salty spicy short to medium finish. Price is great too.