The smoky distillate catches my interest, but the relationship between fruit and metal is what makes this Bowmore more complicated. Apricot, gooseberries and grilled orange give the palate a brighter side alongside soft smoke and creaminess. The rusty iron and sour smoke on the nose are less comfortable territory for me, and the dirty notes on the palate add to that reservation. The finish keeps the tension going, with apricot alongside wet metal, peat, leather and old copper coins. I tend to look for a clear sense of malt character, and these notes point instead to a mix of fruit, smoke and metallic edges. There is plenty to consider here, even if its rougher details make it a qualified preference rather than an easy favourite.
Reviewed by paperboat_atlas
- Nose
- smoky distillate, rusty iron, sour smoke, dried ginger
- Palate
- fruity (apricot, gooseberries, grilled orange), soft smoky, creamy, dirty notes
- Finish
- fruity (apricot), wet metal, peat and smoke, leather, old copper coins