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Bowmore Darkest Sherry Cask Finish

Smooth and ~really~ balanced

0 890

@jdcookReview by @jdcook

12th Oct 2009

0

  • Nose
    21
  • Taste
    22
  • Finish
    22
  • Balance
    25
  • Overall
    90

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

The nose is smoky, salty, with caramel sweetness - very engaging.

Fairly simple taste - smoke, peat and a sherry sweetness, and while that sounds nice enough the balance of the flavours is really something to experience - it's like all the flavours are perfectly weighted. It's also quite powerful - as flavourful as some cask strengths. The finish is long, smoky and salty with a hint of sweetness - very smooth.

There's no single flavour that dominates this whisky, but I can't stress how good the balance is, and the balance is what makes this dram.

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8 comments

@jwise
jwise commented

Can you compare this whisky to some others? I love a sweet-smoke kind of malt, and this offering from Bowmore seems to be just what I am looking for. How is it compared to Highland Park 18yr?

13 years ago 0

@jdcook
jdcook commented

It's a bit peatier and slightly less sweet than the HP 18, and plays in the same league. I may have underscored it slightly. Should be more like a 90.

13 years ago 0

@jwise
jwise commented

Hmmm... Its the sherry sweetness I really like about the HP18. I guess I'll pass on a bottle of this one, at least until I get a chance to try it first.

13 years ago 0

@jdcook
jdcook commented

The sherry sweetness is there, but it is an Islay dram, so there is a heavier peat oomph than you get from Highland Park.

13 years ago 0

@Carl
Carl commented

It sounds like a winner! I am really liking my first Bowmore 12 year, and the peat and smoke. I think the 15 darkest will be my next purchase. You would probably like the Lagavulin 1994 Distillers Edition. Never had a Lagavulin, until I saw it the other day. It is finished in very, rich sweet sherry casks. The balance is also amazing in this one! I find a lot of the sherry cask single malts a bit too sweet, but love the taste of the sherry. The mating of the Islay peat and smoke with the sherry seems to be a wonderful combination. When they get the balance just right like this, it's very impressive! Cheers, Carl

13 years ago 0

@Carl
Carl commented

This is really getting interesting! I just reviewed the Lagavulin 1994 Distillers Edition: connosr.com/reviews/lagavulin/… I was wondering what would be my next single malt purchase! Now I know: I must get the Bowmore 15 year Darkest, to see how it matches up to the Bowmore 12 year and especially the Lagavulin Distillers Edition. I also need to get a Lagavulin 16 year, to see how that matches up to the Bowmore 12 year! There is quite a difference in price, between the Bowmore and Lagavulin, so I am quite interested to see how they compare in quality. $45.00 from the Bowmore Darkest to the Lagavulin Distillers Edition, and $65.00 from the Bowmore 12 year to the Lagavulin 16 year!

13 years ago 0

@GregLogan
GregLogan commented

Carl - It looks like you are going to be a busy man for some time to come.... I sympathize with you... so many "schedules" and so little time (a play to the warmed over alcohol prohibitionist DEA's schedules of so many of creation's distillations). Best, Greg.

12 years ago 0

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