Review by: zSolaris
Distillery: Bowmore.
Region: Islay.
Age: 10 Year. Bottled in 2015.
ABV: 54.9%.
Cask Type: First Fill Bourbon
Color: 1.1, Burnished.
Nose: Quite boozey even after lots of airtime. The notes I get are of toothpaste and a bit of Listerine mouthwash. Not a great start.
Palate: It’s on the savory side, not overly strong in flavors but what is here is savory. Barbecue sauce and oyster sauce are what come to mind most. Adding a few drops of water gets rid of any of the discernible notes leaving behind just a generic “umami”/savory flavor.
Finish: Medium- in length. There’s a little bit of smoked meat and a hint of peat.
Conclusion: The more Bowmore I have, the more I’ve become convinced that sherry casks are truly the best way to express the distillery spirit. This Dorus Mor 10 year distillery bottling does nothing to change that perception. Being aged in first fill bourbon casks, I was hoping to see signs of promise that other cask maturations might do Bowmore justice. Perhaps it’s because this is a distillery bottling vs. an independent bottling, but I felt that this whisky was overall pretty lackluster. The nose doesn’t get us off to a great start, with notes of toothpaste and mouthwash. The palate isn’t particularly flavorful with just hints of savory sauces. The finish is pleasant enough but again quite muted. Maybe I had too high of hopes for this, but in the end it’s just okay. Would I buy a bottle? Maybe for like $35.
Final Score: 74.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 
