Whisky Review: Bowmore 12 Years Old 2002 Small Batch (57.1%, Cadenheads, Bourbon HHs, 864 Bottles, 2015)

• Islay single malt scotch whisky
• 57.1% ABV,
• £47.95 for 70cl
• Score: 80/100

What they say:

Distilled at Bowmore distillery in 2002 and matured for a full 12 years in bourbon hogsheads, before bottling as part of Wm Cadenhead’s small batch series in 2015 at a comined ABV of 57.1% for an outturn of 864 bottles.

What I say:

Presented at the Water Of Life Society ‘For Peat’s Sake’ tasting held on 19th February 2015.

Colour:

Refractive champagne gold (3/20), medium-thick slow tears

Nose:

Ashen peat, cigarette smoke, burnt charcoal, sweet vanilla and coconut, icing sugar, honey and cereal barley flour

Taste:

Vanilla cream, spicy white pepper and cinnamon powder, honey, caramel oak wood, fizzy/sherbet, peat smoke, iodine, medicinal, rubbing alcohol and menthol hints

Finish:

Long, icing sugar sweet with peat smoke and woody oak

Overall:

Despite the small batch process of vatting several hogsheads to construct this small batch 12 Year old Bowmore expression this one was still a little thin and disjointed in places. The presence of menthol detracted from this whisky and was indicative of underactive casks.