Bowmore 11 Year old Hart Brothers

@Pierre_W, I can't stand it any longer! I want to sit down and drink some whiskies with you. This Bowmore looks like it would be a perfect choice for such a tasting. I want to know from my own experience what this one tastes like neat. I respect your taste enormously, and I have greatly enjoyed your whisky knowledge, your company, and your politeness on Connosr. I have no difficulty whatsoever enjoying the company of those whose whisky tastes vary from my own, provided we are all cordial and respectful of each other's tastes and differences. You are the consummate gentleman. And so am I.

So far I have never met a 57% ABV whisky which was overpowering to me due to its alcohol content (though standard 45% ABV Maker's Mark can often be ridiculously heavy on the alcohol greeting). I'd love for you to taste some 70+% ABV bourbons to which I would never add water to counter alcohol concentration, and would sometimes add water only for an exploration of flavour variety. It doesn't even occur to me to add 2 drops of water to 71.5% ABV 2010 George T. Stagg or 73.75% ABV 2012 Abraham Bowman. That 70% alcohol is just invisible, to me, and to most others who drink these particular two whiskeys. But it would probably not be invisible to you.

Here's hoping the day comes!

Thanks once again for another very beautifully done and informative review.

Many thanks, again, for your very kind words, @Victor. Indeed we should sit down one day to taste some whiskies together. I do have some interesting stuff in my cupboard, to be tasted on that special occasion, and I do not doubt that so do you. The ABV issue that you brought up is an interesting one. For one, I prefer my whiskies neat whenever possible, and although I have never had the pleasure of sampling a whisky with an ABV exceeding 70%, I have had many that were between 60% and 65% and the best ones among those were just perfect neat; a good example, by the way, is the 20-year old 1981 Rare Malts Rosebank bottling that at an ABV of 62.3% was absolutely stellar neat. The more drinkable a whisky at a high ABV the better its quality, this used to be a mantra of mine, but recently I have come across some specimens that were difficult to handle neat despite a comparatively low ABV, but that turned out to be great when adding a little water. Interesting, isn't it? To be explored on the day when it comes!