Bowmore Vault Edition First Release / Atlantic Sea Salt

The No 1 Vaults at Bowmore are legendary. I visited the warehouse myself in September 2017. Well worth a visit. This release is named for said warehouse, which lies at the shores of Loch Indaal. It does not have an age statement, but the label does proclaim 'Atlantic Sea Salt'.

The nose, which stars a bit closed, offers vanilla, lemon and mandarin. A hint of nuts and apricots makes it appreciatively sweet, while there is also a mild salty edge. The smoke is very discrete. This smells a bit like the mature brother of the No 1, albeit a lot softer.

The body is good, nicely oily and immediately it tastes quite coastal. Brackish to a fault, but sweet at the same time. Loads of citrus, a bunch of apricots making it mildly tropical. There is some mint there as well, as is some ginger and a soft peppery note. In that sense, it again reminds me of the No 1, although that one seems a lot younger and sharper. The high ABV of this Vaults Edition (or should I write Edi1ion?) makes this one a lot more interesting. The smoke, however, remains in the background.

The finish is medium long on more of the same.

Yup, this is the big ‘well behaved’ brother of the No 1, but so it comes with a price: around 110 EUR. Having said that, it does deliver what it promises: Atlantic Sea Salt.

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