Review #81: Bowmore 11yr 2001/2013, The Whiskyman, 50.6%, ex-bourbon, 240 bottles

Into the naughts ...

whiskyfun did a Bowmore review today. One of Serge's points was that there's a big difference between the austere, superpeaty early 2000's and the lighter, fruitier mid-2000's, though I'm not sure it really worked out that way. of course, he could have also mentioned the FWP-89's, the fruity and peaty '93's, the various mid-90's vintages ... For me what's remarkable is that in the past year or so it seems like about 10yrs of vintages have been bottled. I hope someone's holding something back, or we'll have to suck Bowmore out of the still with big straws by this time next year.

I don't have any of the ones Serge reviewed, so I'll try this one.

nose: I really like this profile. Wood smoke and pickled plums, with hints of bitter herbs and sweetness (cotton candy, toffee). Smaller notes of rotting hay, motor oil, and spicy licorice. A twist of lemon.

rich, salty palate just like the nose. all the individual flavors come through. the peat smoke is strong but approachable: I feel like I can taste whatever's burning. (what's burning is: oily wood, pickled plums, and rotting hay). finish is suitably long -- phenolic pickled plums.

This is really good. I can live with Bowmore getting younger and younger if they stay like this. I wish I could find the grapefruit and tropical fruit that Serge talked about, but not here. Still, if you don't like this profile, you're dumb.

score: 89