Bowmore Legend

"Young" Bowmores polarise whisky lovers. "Young", depending on who uses the word with respect to Bowmore malts, can mean 5 years, 8 years, 12 years, or even 15 years of wood aging. Many cannot abide the 5 YO Bowmore malt comprising McClelland's Islay Single Malt Whisky. A somewhat lesser number place this 8 YO Bowmore Legend in the same category of dislike as they regard the McClelland's Islay. A much smaller number feel the same way about the standard distillery bottled Bowmore 12 YO malt. Some also include the 15 YO Bowmore Darkest and other Bowmores of this age among the unacceptable

Whatever it is which some people don't like in the aforementioned Bowmores doesn't really bother me. I respect the individuality of the taste of those who don't enjoy those Bowmores, but I am happy that I am able to enjoy them

The reviewed bottle has been open 3 years, is 95% full, and has been preserved for the last 15 months with inert gas

Nose: leather, salt, medium-intensity peat of a mixed sweet and bitter quality; malt, light smoke. This nose is not a thing of beauty, but it is inoffensive, unless you don't like the leather, which many do not

Taste: in the mouth Legend is much sweeter, much saltier, and somewhat more bitter, than it is in the mouth. The flavours are also much stronger and more pointed in the mouth than they are in the nose. The quality of the flavours is a little rough and ready, lacking smoothness and refinement. Leaving the whisky to gather air in the glass for 20 minutes brings out additional sweetness

Finish: medium-long length of finish; Legend finishes on a lot of sweet and with a good bit of bitter accompanying it

Balance: a good balance of sweet, bitter, and salty flavours is achieved, but the quality of the individual component flavours leaves a good bit to be desired

Can I enjoy drinking Bowmore Legend? Sure I can. I "even" enjoy drinking McClelland's Islay Single Malt Whisky, quite a lot, actually, particularly if the bottle is fresh. Are there many many more refined malts to drink than Bowmore Legend? Yes, there are

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