Review by: The Muskox

It’s no coincidence that Paolo and I occasionally post paired reviews – last night, we tried a couple Tamdhus and Bowmores on Discord together. Of course, no matter how nice of a sample I have, he can top it. We’re both big Bowmore fans, so we were very happy to pull out our respective samples.

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Distillery: Bowmore.

Bottler: Elixir.

Region: Islay.

ABV: 51.2%. Cask strength.

Age: 16 to 18 years. Distilled between 2001 and 2003. Bottled in 2020.

Cask type: Bourbon and sherry casks.

Price: $210 CAD.

Color: Pale gold. Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

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Nose: Woosdy and herbal. Classic early-2000s Bowmore notes – tarry smoke, singed rubber, road salt, flowers, cheesecake, and tart fruit (peach, plum, mango, grapefruit). More of an engine-exhaust type of smoke than usual, and some seaweed too. Meaty funk – prosciutto! Honey sizzling on hot asphalt. Roasted pistachios and sesame seeds. Lots of fresh herbs – rosemary, oregano, and thyme. Bloomed black pepper and petrichor. Hints of something farmy show up over time.

Palate: Soft texture. Very floral and sweet on the arrival – big lavender, mango, and peach juice. Develops gently – sea salt, burning pine wood, herb gardens, and birch tea. Very foresty and earthy. Cool mineral notes – shale and seashells. Extinguished campfire.

Finish: Medium-length. Rather floral here – violets, lavender and overbrewed Darjeeling tea. The smoke is herbal and gentle, but still caked in earth. More peaches, plums, and mango. Mossy rocks and rotting logs.

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Possible SMWS bottling name: “Verdant forest rainshower”

Conclusion: I’m such a sucker for this flavour profile. This whisky is so deep and foresty – conjuring up memories of my deep-woods trekking adventures through soft spruce trees and Labrador tea in pouring rain in the taiga. That wasn’t so fun at the time, but I certainly won’t forget the smell. The nose is incredible, definitely the best part of the dram in terms of depth and complexity, but the palate just has this smooth earthy greenness that I love. Maybe stay clear if you’re not a fan of very floral Bowmore? But even still. A killer whisky.

Final Score: 87.

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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.