No Kilchoman in stock, hence yesterday's hiatus. Of course, no Ardnahoe for today either, so we will only have Bowmore. Should be alright, should it not? By the way, I have a hard time understanding why Fèis Ìle has a day dedicated to Kilchoman, but Bowmore shares its day with Ardnahoe.
Bowmore 16yo d.1972 (43%, OB for Prestonfield House The Prestonfield, Sherry Casks, C#1036-1039, b#8264): nose: encaustic, varnish, precious woods and wood lacquers. Actually, it has a nose that reminds me of aircraft modelling: the paint, the glue, the varnish, the decals -- all is there. Oily teak, oily mahogany, drinks cabinets, a glass of tawny Port, all that before spices arrive (ground mace, turmeric powder)... and then fruit. Nectarine, white peach, lychee. It is quite earthy on the nose as well, with dry earth and fishing nets, right out of the water. That earthy character soon smothers the fruit with vase water, lichen on the riverbank and cabbage water. Later on, pickle onions and red-wine vinegar seem to show up. Mouth: a good, mild attack that quickly reveals a meek palate, in terms of strength. It does have a pinch of ginger powder, but the dilution is rather obvious, unfortunately. Regardless, what comes out most, here, is the wood. Tannic and borderline plank-y, in some respect, it is bitter, with dried orange peel, old sawdust and dusty bookshelves, old newspapers. In the back, a veil of sooty smoke seems to prevent any fruit from shining -- cooling embers, spent matches, charred wood. At second sip, preserved plums and a drop of red-wine vinegar also appear, sweet and rather pleasant. Madeira? Port? Finish: earth, though
scorched earth, this time, charred wood again, smoky red wine, tannic and strong, smoked cranberries, maybe, even a brine-y pickled-onion touch. Toasted notes turn up-- not quite roasted coffee, more burnt cake and liquorice allsorts, as well as mint, turned black after staying too long in the refrigerator. Repeated sipping gives a better balance quickly: the scorched-earth, tannic cranberry (if it does not exist, I just invented it) and vinegar-y-smoky profile makes this quite nice. But again, it feels watered down and a bit flat. Nowt wrong with it; simply, the pedigree made me hope for something else. 7/10
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Fill level not
tooooo bad |
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Cute how they name
Sheriff as the proprietor
(not the case since 1963) |
Bowmore 14yo (80° Proof, Cadenhead, b. late 1970s): no date on this, but likely a 1965 distillation. Cadenhead had a parcel of those casks (we had a stunning example of those at pat gva's
last year), and this livery was used from 1977 to 1979. Nose: the first nose is perfume-y, whilst still shy. Lilac that has not yet bloomed, lily of the valley. Time seems to only make it more floral, with gorse, magnolias, buttercups, tulips, pink roses and icing sugar; OK, then! Further nosing brings timid orange-blossom water, chive flowers, edelweiss, forsythia, primroses and even timid violets. That is all kept together by an underlay of vanilla custard. Unexpected, but pleasant. After the first sip, pencil shavings appear. Mouth: The custard cream is definitely there, and it is spiced up with ginger powder. The texture is milky, the heat is adequate. It has glycerine and flower-flavoured glucose syrup, but it is magnolia all the way (or
forever, as one should say), on the palate, honey-glazed magnolia and mead. Something greener shows up at the second sip, likely plant stems -- and I would love to say magnolia stems, but I do not go around licking magnolia trunks. Some downplayed fruit, somewhere in the far back (papaya) and a pinch of salt. Finish: how unexpected again! A kick of smoke at first, then honey, coconut yoghurt and magnolias, then a distinct soapiness! Honey-and-magnolia Dove shower gel it is. It does not bother me, but I can see it disturb others. Further sipping brings out some fruit too: papaya again, but
smoked papaya, this time. Flat mead, flat perry, made syrupy, one way or another, thick papaya custard and a paste made with Chinese gooseberries, fresh figs and a drop of shampoo. How quaint! I wonder if this is spoilt -- lowish fill and a damaged cap, so it is not impossible. In any case, I was hoping for more -- for
Bowmore. Ah! well. 8/10
Bowmore 16yo d.1972 (43%, OB for Prestonfield House The Prestonfield, Sherry Casks, C#1036-1039, b#8264): nose: encaustic, varnish, precious woods and wood lacquers. Actually, it has a nose that reminds me of aircraft modelling: the paint, the glue, the varnish, the decals -- all is there. Oily teak, oily mahogany, drinks cabinets, a glass of tawny Port, all that before spices arrive (ground mace, turmeric powder)... and then fruit. Nectarine, white peach, lychee. It is quite earthy on the nose as well, with dry earth and fishing nets, right out of the water. That earthy character soon smothers the fruit with vase water, lichen on the riverbank and cabbage water. Later on, pickle onions and red-wine vinegar seem to show up. Mouth: a good, mild attack that quickly reveals a meek palate, in terms of strength. It does have a pinch of ginger powder, but the dilution is rather obvious, unfortunately. Regardless, what comes out most, here, is the wood. Tannic and borderline plank-y, in some respect, it is bitter, with dried orange peel, old sawdust and dusty bookshelves, old newspapers. In the back, a veil of sooty smoke seems to prevent any fruit from shining -- cooling embers, spent matches, charred wood. At second sip, preserved plums and a drop of red-wine vinegar also appear, sweet and rather pleasant. Madeira? Port? Finish: earth, though scorched earth, this time, charred wood again, smoky red wine, tannic and strong, smoked cranberries, maybe, even a brine-y pickled-onion touch. Toasted notes turn up-- not quite roasted coffee, more burnt cake and liquorice allsorts, as well as mint, turned black after staying too long in the refrigerator. Repeated sipping gives a better balance quickly: the scorched-earth, tannic cranberry (if it does not exist, I just invented it) and vinegar-y-smoky profile makes this quite nice. But again, it feels watered down and a bit flat. Nowt wrong with it; simply, the pedigree made me hope for something else. 7/10
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