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.
1 reply »