This is an interesting beast. It’s a 10 yr fully matured in high quality sherry cask, at a robust 50+ ABV. It first came out around $100 from what I remember, but now you can probably only find it in secondary markets. And, from my understanding, out of the 3 releases, this first one was the best. W/o water, this taste like Lay’s BBQ chips. Pretty one dimensional, and lacking that Islay smoke + sherry that I love. But...add a few drops of water, and the flavors really dance. Now we’re talking Oaxacan Manchamantal ( a sauce made with smoky peppers, apples, pineapple and flame roasted onion, garlic, tomatoes ). Amazing how it transforms with water. I only had a 2cl sample, but if you do see a bottle of this still around, it’s a must buy at the original $100 price. Secondary market prices ...to each his/her own.
About this bottle
This bottling is a bit of a departure from the more traditional bottlings put out by Bowmore. The Devil's Cask is a 10 year old whisky, but it is the proof at 113.8 that sets this one apart from its brethren. The alcohol strength and the cask aging exclusively in 1st fill sherry combine to create a fiery cinnamon experience, and of course, the malted barley is lightly peated to provide the smoke!
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 12 parsed reviews.
It's the George T Stagg of Scotland... Leave it on your tongue and it will burn your tastebuds into a state of numb submission. You could add water but what's the point of that when there's perfectly good saliva in your mouth? Feel the burn, embrace the burn, enjoy the burn then linger in the nice sherry moment before you swallow and give the old liver a one/two... Buy it, drink it respect it.
Classic sherried Bowmore Nose: Raisins, Figs, Raspberries, Pineapples, Sultanas, Prunes, Morello Cherries Palate: Smoke, Raspberries, Toffee, Salted Honey, Bananas, Beef, Raisins, Hazlenuts Finish: Raisins, Honey, Salted Caramel, Beef, Pork Ribs, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Christmas Cakes
Christmas gift from my son... Sweet,smoky, briny, spicy. Stewed dark fruit. Mouth coating and lingering. Campfire ash at the end. Added 10 drops of water - tones down the alcohol and accentuates the flavors on the palate. 2nd dram of the day - World Whisky Day - May 16, 2015
Starts with tinge of tobacco and dark chocolate notes leading to fresh and subtle earthy flavor having remnants of spices with long lasting but very lite smokiness that ends in spiced chocolaty flavor.
I have the Devils cask 2nd edition. It is very good, unlike anything I have had with the smoky sherry. Don't let the 10 years turn you off, very mature. Awesome sherry smoke bomb
6 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.
Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
