Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 50.1%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: Yes
Owner: Suntory
Average price: € 80.00
Official website: www.bowmore.com
Vote: 86/100
Released in September 2019, this second edition in the ‘Vault Edit1°n’ series (as stated on the label) is dedicated to another peculiarity of the distillery, namely the peating of its whiskies.
Also called ‘Peat Smoke’, like its predecessor this bottling comes from casks matured in Bowmore’s well-known Vault N°1, which we have already mentioned in the article dedicated to the first release.
Originally, four annual limited edition releases were planned (or rather, ‘small batch’ which, as history teaches us, doesn’t mean much) starting in 2016, so we’re actually already two behind, a sign perhaps that sales haven’t gone as planned? The lack of attention paid to the commercial launch would suggest so, but I have no way of knowing….
Tasting notes
There isn’t that much peat smoke on the nose, it’s more of a marine and vegetable connotation, with a strong sweet and fruity component: apricot tart, ripe pear, milk chocolate, vanilla, marshmellow. It is a very damp aroma, almost like undergrowth, evoking the idea of a warehouse with walls soaked in ocean water. On the length the smoke emerges more, of (obviously) wet and burnt wood.
And it’s the palate that lives up to the name of this bottle, with the wood ashes filling the mouth, always with a strong wet and vegetal connotation. Oily and full, the alcohol content adds a spicy touch that goes well with the harmonics of red fruits and a crush of hazelnuts, salted butter and dried dates. Slight medicinal note in the background.
Medium-long medicinal finish of ash, salt, toasted wood, chocolate.
A whisky that is centred on the bottle’s title, with the smoke present but not invasive, representing the spirit of Bowmore well but without any particular incisiveness. Taking into account the relatively low price, especially when compared to that of the first release, it is a whisky that deserves to be tried.
Other perspectives:
The Dramble