Live Tasting - Aug 21-23 2009 -- BOWMORE

[mikeymad]

The Whisky - Bowmore

Bring out your Bowmore's this weekend.... and share your notes and thoughts....

I will try to be on tomorrow (22nd) afternoon my time - 9 or 10 GMT

I have a handful open bottles and some samples... and if things are going well I might open one as well..

What say you...???

Cheers,
Mikey

[Ras Mazunga]

I'll be there with 3 Bowmores or so.

[Ras Mazunga]

Bowmore 2002 6yo cask 156 46%, the Ultimate(Van Wees)

superb!
sweet 'n smokey.

[Ras Mazunga]

Had a Bowmore 2002 cs also bottled by the Ultimate. Notes will follow later...
For now an ob: Bowmore Dawn 51.5%, thank you for this sample Collector 57.

[Ras Mazunga]

Had only a few Bowmore and finally I think I am tasting the infamous soapiness.

[Ras Mazunga]

The Bowmores I'm having are very sweet, too sweet actually. Taking a Bowmore break now with an A'bunadh.

Forgot I have a heavily sherried smos 13yo Bowmore...

[mikeymad]

Thanks Ras,

I have to dig up my Bowmore's ...

Had to take Allergy Medication this afternoon, so not really ready for beverages yet..

I have a Bowmore with some soapiness in it.. Want to re-try to see if it is still there..

Cheers,

[Wub]

It's too early in the day over here for me to being drinking whisky, and besides the only Bowmore I have is Legend, and I'd really prefer not to taste that again in the near future.

[pkt77242]

I will be on in a couple of hours to taste the Bowmore 15yo Mariner. I haven't enjoyed many Bowmores (ok any) so am looking forward to other peoples notes, to see if I want to try any more.

Sean

[pkt77242]

Bowmore 15yo Mariner
Brand : Bowmore Expression : -
Nose : Feminine perfume, Violets, lavender, and slight alcohol. After a few minutes gentle smoke and caramel. Palate : Fresh cut flower, salt and soft peat. Also some caramel and lemon. Finish : Medium length finish, salty and lavender. Comment : Less perfumed than when I first opened it but still not to my taste. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : None Ice : None Glass : - Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sean

[borgom]

Aaaah the famous Bowmore Pepe Le Pew!

[Ganga]

I promised that I would post up some Bowmores following my return from Cub Scout Family Camp. So I have three. Bowmore Legend, Bowmore 17 WCWS Single Cask Dewar Rattray, Bowmore Darkest.

[Ganga]

Bowmore Legend
Brand : Bowmore Expression : Legend - 2008 Edition
Nose : Lavendar, Florals, Meadows, Citrus (Grapefruit?), oak smoke Palate : Charcoal, sweet peat, smoke, light citrus Finish : moderate, sweet smoke Comment : - Colour : Amber Gold Score : 0
Age : NAS Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : Morrison Bowmore	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : - Ice : - Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

Bowmore Darkest
Brand : Bowmore Expression : Darkest
Nose : Sweet, small amounts of smoke, hints of maltiness, some off notes Palate : charcoal, sweetness (more sweet than I would like) perfume like but not dominating and not lavendar Finish : short, sweet smoke Comment : Not a good representation of the Darkest NAS compared to the many other bottles I've owned or tried. Colour : Amber Score : 0
Age : NAS Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 0% Bottler : Morrison Bowmore	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : - Ice : - Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : Sample from Knolly
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

Bowmore West Coast Whisky Society
Brand : Dewar Rattray Expression : Cask 2058
Nose : Bubble gum sugar, lavendar, oak smoke, dough Palate : Ashy coals-oak and peat, underlying lavendar/floral, sweet and sour Finish : moderate length, big smokiness Comment : - Colour : Reddish Amber Score : 0
Age : 17 Years Old Vintage : 1991 ABV : 55.9% Bottler : Dewar Rattray	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : - Ice : - Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : Sample from Knolly
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ryguy]

I am a little bit late here, but I was disappointed that I missed this tasting, and I really wanted to add some notes. I have a few nice Bowmores that I've saved for this, so here goes.

[Ryguy]

Bowmore 12yo OB 40%

Glass: SMWS

Nose: Some lavender with hints of floral notes. A whisp of sea salts and a tad bit of smoke linger.

Palate: Starts really sweet, extremely smooth (the low ABV), then gives way to some seaweed and a bit of peat.

Finish: Short to medium finish, a mix of peat with some purfume notes, but not overpowering.

Comment: An enjoyable dram, I'd have to say that this one has definitely grown on me.

[Ryguy]

Next up, I'd like to point out that contrary to the popular opinion, this is one of my favorite standard OB Bowmores.

Bowmore 17yo OB 43% (Old OB bottling)

Glass: SMWS

Nose: Much more happening on the nose here, this has sweet floral and purfume notes, also a hint of lavender. Some peat comes through along with some maritime notes as well.

Palate: This starts almost a bit sour, then becomes really sweet, smooth and enjoyable. It's got a mix of sea salt and some of the purfume notes come through, but don't overpower. Nicely balanced sweet peat.

Finish: The finish on this one is medium to long, mixed with the peculiar lavender notes and salty peat. It becomes much more salty towards the finish than most Bowmores.

Comment: Very enjoyable dram for me, and I prefer this Bowmore to many of the other OB's.

[mikeymad]

very cool Ry... miss your notes around here...

thanks for playing...

Cheers,
Mikey

[Ryguy]

More Bowmore this afternoon....

Bowmore 18yo OB 43%

Glass: SMWS

Nose: Very pleasant on the nose here! This really shows how much Bowmore just gets better with age. Lots of complexity mixed with peat, salt and engine oil.

Palate: Really smooth to start, beginning it's sweet peat, then gives way to a nice smokey charcoal taste. Very nice balance of sherry and peat here.

Finish: Nice long, peaty, salty, smokey finish with more charcoal flavor coming through.

[Ryguy]

Bowmore 22yo ( 48.3%, SMWS Cask #3.97, 1986/2004 )

Glass: SMWS

Cask: Refill Bourbon Barrel

Nose: Very interesting nose, like sweet iodine and also some peculiar floral notes as well with a hint of vanilla.

Palate: Very floral to start with some hints of purfume. Then it becomes sweeter with a bit of smoke.

Finish: Medium finish here, mostly floral notes lingering with overall sweetness and some sea salts.

[Ryguy]

Bowmore 10yo ( 55.6%, SMWS, Cask #3.137 , 1998/2008 )

Glass: SMWS

Cask: Refill Sherry Butt

Nose: This one has a fantastic nose! A great mix of sweet peat and lots of pipe smoke linger with some light floral notes in the background.

Palate: This is just wonderful! It's big and smokey, with loads of honey and molasses present on the palate that changes throughout.

Finish: The finish is long and smokey, great balance of peat and sherry that just lasts forever here!

Comment: This is definitely one of the best bottles of Bowmore that I have tasted. Very, very good cask selection here by the SMWS.

[Willie JJ]

Had to take Allergy Medication this afternoon, so not really ready for beverages yet..

Mikey it seems that you didn't manage to do this one. Do you want to pick a day and try again? Everyone else is welcome of course.

[Ras Mazunga]

[Willie JJ]

Good man.

[Ganga]

Willie, Mikey is away and not likely to be checking the boards until about Wednesday. I'll let him know and maybe you guys can do some Bow during Wednesday's chat.

[Willie JJ]

It sounds like a plan.

[Willie JJ]

Bowmore time.

[Willie JJ]

Bowmore 14yo 1990 43%, D&M Connoisseur's Club, 04/1990 - 08/2004 (Thanks to Mikey and Ganga for this one)

Nose: Not a very Bowmore-like nose. Light, calamine lotion, tyre smoke. More like a Caol Ila. No lavender that I can detect.
Palate: Lovely soft smoke delivery though. The barley is juicy and mouth watering.
Finish: Long, slow and spicy.
Comment: Not a Bowmore as I like to sea them but a very nice dram indeed.

[Willie JJ]

Bowmore Golden Cask 15yo 54%, 1994 - 2009

Nose: Again, lightish, with lots of vanilla, but the salt-fish character comes through on this one. Oily, hint of diesel, but not strong. Ah and there's the lavender. Its not exactly an in your face dram though. It's all quite restrained.
Palate: Nothing restrained here though. Big oily, spirity arrival, with the barley submerged beneath the phenols. Smoke heaven.
Finish: Then that long sizzling fire sets in and gently sautees the palate. Mmmm.
Comment: Who could grumble with this?

[Willie JJ]

Not a Bowmore as I like to sea them but a very nice dram indeed.

I guess it had that maritime aroma then

Ha ha spot the freudian

[Willie JJ]

Have you not got a Bowmore Nick? Pull up a chair.

[Willie JJ]

I can't come back tomorrow due to my presence being required at a tasting.

[Willie JJ]

Bummer Nick. Gordon is proposing a TAD on Sat so maybe catch you there?

[Ras Mazunga]

Bowmore 2002 bourbon cask no 156 6yo 46% bottled by Van Wees
n: not a lot, malts, a little sweet, a little smoke, fresh white bread maybe
t: smoky, citrussy,vanilla,
f: spicy, citrussy, short taste finish. the feeling stays much longer.
c: better than my notes suggest.