I was able to try a small sample of this at a local liquor store; I'm not sure if it's a new product, but they were definitely trying to push it out the door pretty aggressively. I declined that opportunity, though; aged for an unknown number of years in first-fill bourbon barrels, this Bowmore is unfortunately bottled at a tepid, wishy-washy 40% ABV. Unfortunate. Well, let's dive right in:
Nose: Delicate smoke, side by side with that unmistakable Bowmore floral note - lavender soap is what everyone always draws the comparison to, and that doesn't seem far off here. Some vanilla notes. Some mild salt. On the whole, a rather muted nose.
Mouthfeel: Very thin.
Palate: A little fruit (red apple?), a little smoke, a little honey. A certain "meatiness" is present here, but it's indefinite, at least in my sample glass. Some lemon and some salt.
Finish: The weakest part of the dram - a short finish with some wood and pepper that dissolved very rapidly.
Verdict: This is being offered as Bowmore's entry level whisky, and I think it fits that niche pretty well. For $30, I would say this is pretty decent. Anything above that, and I'd say you have better options. As usual, I think this (and most Bowmore) would really benefit from a few extra percentage points of alcohol to firm up the body and reinforce the flavors.
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