Bowmore 18 Year (2004) SMWS Distillery 3 Rare Release “The finesse of a fragrant furnace”

Review by: The Muskox

The SMWS has a bunch of casks of Bowmore from 2003 and 2004 – from my and other Maltrunners’ experiences, they’re all delicious. Here’s one now!

Distillery: Bowmore.

Bottler: Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Region: Islay.

ABV: 56.9%. Cask strength.

Age: 18 years. Distilled February 16th 2023. Bottled in 2022.

Cask type: Matured in a combination of second-fill ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry hogsheads.

Price: N/A, sample.

Color: Gold. Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

Nose: Smoky and very salty. Cured pork, washed-rind cheese, some machine shop, and seasoned rice vinegar. Plenty of effervescent fruit – citrus, peaches, banana, mango-habanero salsa? Sweet and buttery malt. Those violets are here too.

Palate: Medium-thick texture. Arrives salty and floral, with muscat grapes, pineapple, vanilla, violets, and chlorine. Develop to rich and earthy smoke, with moderate tannin, bittersweet green tea, wet spruce boughs. There’s a bit of a carbolic/industrial character here too. Turns into strongly effervescent sweetness – citrus juices, lychee, tangerine, and some chocolate.

Finish: Medium-long. Rich carbolic smoke, eucalyptus, pine sap, more of that cheese, mineral salts, and sea air. Chocolate and Stroopwaffel. Lingering sweet fruit notes of red apple, red grapes, and blackberries.

Possible SMWS bottling name: “Baked brie in a hydraulic press”

Conclusion: It’s Bowmore – it does Bowmore things, which I happen to really, really like. This one has this interesting mildly-funky soft cheese note, which is paired with classic Bowmore flowers, fruit, and herbal smoke. Gorgeous stuff, a great pick for the Bowmore realheads.

Final Score: 88.

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.

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