Review #236 - Bowmore 12 Year
Bowmore 12 Year Old - hailing from the oldest distillery on Islay. Bowmore was established in 1779, so we're approaching the brand's 250th anniversary; despite that long standing and fame, this is a whisky that has a complicated reputation. These days, many enthusiasts will suggest searching for Bowmore that's bottled by independent bottlers, instead of spending on distillery bottlings.
This is a whisky that's most certainly neutered - a minimum bottling strength of 40% ABV, along with plenty of chill filtration and added caramel color. Will that special distillate be able to shine past those obstacles?
Bowmore 12 Year
Scotland/Islay - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 62 (2024)
Age Statement: 12 Years
Strength: 40% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 18 months; bottles at 60%, 100%, and 90% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: A slightly elegant, herbal peat, if a bit restrained. Hints of burning rubber and brine remind us that this is an Islay whisky; there are fruits of lime, grape, and prune, and a slightly umami side as well. Pepper and dill add a soft spice, while musty perfume and petrichor add delicate scents.
Palate: A medium-thin mouthfeel; flavors start out with black pepper barbecue, sweet and sour sauce, warm oak, and a medium level of peat smoke. It's all a bit musty and mulchy, slightly herbal, actually pretty interesting despite the subdued level of flavor. Savory sausage, wood smoke, and orange fruit flavors are plentiful.
Finish: Medium length or so, with musty smoke and herbal notes lingering - slightly menthol, and a bit savory. Soft wood astringency is paired with floral perfume, and there's just a hint of a dark purple fruit, like oversweet blackberry.
Final Note: A pleasant casual sipper for those looking for Islay peat, but not wanting an overwhelming peat bomb. The musty, savory character was quite nice, and the accents of fruits and perfume added some complexity. In one tasting, the briny character really began to dominate in the palate, too. Unfortunately, despite the nice flavors, the overall strength is too low to convey them with any sort of punch.
Value is fine - right around average, for us. While this single malt hasn't seen the price hikes in our area that many other brands have, it's still creeping up slowly in price in the last couple of years.
Our Average Rating: 6.3 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.33
Check out some other entry-level Islay single malt reviews:
Review #137 - Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10 Year
Review #39 - Laphroaig 10 Year Sherry Oak Finish
