Whisky Connosr
Menu
Shop Join

Bowmore 17 Year Old

A melange of contrasts that somehow comes off brilliantly

0 990

@jdcookReview by @jdcook

29th Oct 2009

0

  • Nose
    24
  • Taste
    23
  • Finish
    21
  • Balance
    22
  • Overall
    90

Show rating data charts

Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Smoke and peat and sea salt. Warm and encompassing - and that's just the initial hit of the nose. Behind that, there are hints of sweetness - particularly chocolate - and a dash of fruitiness. A genuinely deep and complex nose that takes several goes over several minutes to start to get a grip on all the contrasting flavours.

The taste is initially lightly smoked creamy toffee with a spicy, peppery note, and then there is a rush of heavy smoke, peat and salt. I get hints of honey and occasionally I feel like I catch a fleeting smidgeon of fruit. Not too many malts start light and creamy, and develop into a warm and rich malt.

The finish isn't terribly long, but is full of flavour - spice, peat and smoke overlay hints of honey and good pipe tobacco.

If someone said to me they were trying to sell me a whisky that was sweet and fruity, as well as smoky, peaty and salty - and that it could be described as being light and creamy, along with warm and rich, I'd be pretty sceptical. However, somehow this bottling manages to pull it off, and the Bowmore 17 year old is a genuinely fantastic dram. It's a peat monster, but easier and lighter than pretty much any other Islay. Better value for money than the 'Darkest' bottlings, but probably not quite as good overall.

I'd heartily recommend it for anybody who is in to Islay malts, but wants something with a definite unique character.

Related Bowmore reviews

9 comments

@jdcook
jdcook commented

Interestingly, as I still had a few sips left by the time I finished the review, I thought I would try this one with some dark chocolate, and the pairing worked really well for me. But I mean genuine dark chocolate - the slightly bitter stuff.

I also tried some milk chocolate I had lying around, and (surprisingly) it was fairly pleasant, but the dark, high cocoa chocolate fit this whisky like a glove.

14 years ago 0

@jdcook
jdcook commented

Also, being a bit of a nerd, I'm happy I could work the word 'melange' into something!!

14 years ago 0

@jeanluc
jeanluc commented

Great use of 'melange'.

14 years ago 0

@jdcook
jdcook commented

I'm glad you approve!

14 years ago 0

basmati commented

I couldn't agree more!

12 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

jd, it is especially noteworthy that your usage of 'melange' was in the title for the review. You get twice the points for that, I believe.

12 years ago 0

@Pudge72
Pudge72 commented

...up to 74 on the wishlist now! :) Sounds like a very unique offering that manages to also be high quality in its presentation. Great review!

12 years ago 0

@jdcook
jdcook commented

Melange is such a cool word, and I am happy to go along with @Victor and take double points for using it in the title... ;)

12 years ago 0

@Pudge72
Pudge72 commented

I was lucky enough to be able try a dram of this bottle at a business dinner tonight! @jdcook, I would agree with a good portion of your review notes, though I think I missed some of the aroma profile due to it being served in a straight sided glass. All in all though, very nice and a very unique structure for an Islay whisky.

Would it be safe to say that this offering was aged in sherry casks? Any feedback about that would be appreciated.

12 years ago 0

You must be signed-in to comment here

Sign in