“Thin Line Between Love and Hate”
Whisky Review # 647
Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Brand: Bowmore Black Rock
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS (My guess: 8-10 Years)
Age: NAS (My guess: 8-10 Years)
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Sherry and Bourbon Casks
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 55-70 (September 2017)
Maturation: Sherry and Bourbon Casks
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 55-70 (September 2017)
Colour: Dark Amber with a hint of Orange (Artificially Coloured)
Nose: Young and Light. The Smoke and Earthy Peat are there but remain in the background. The Sherry cask influence is noticeable but these weren't extremely active casks. The Black Rock is by no means the Sherry monster of Loch Indaal. I don't get any Sulphur and that's positive. I get some Fruit like Blackberries and Cherries but it's not Fresh Fruit. More like artificially flavoured Candies. I also find Toasted Cereals, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Heather-Honey, Grass, Straw, Brine, Smoked Fish or Shellfish, Mandarin Juice, Dried Fruit like Sultanas and Figs, Dried Banana chips covered with Cocoa Powder, Dusty Road, Unlit Cigars, Leather, Citrus Peel and light Spices like Cinnamon, Ginger and Pepper. Please note that most of these Aromas are mere suggestions. Artificial Fruit, Salted Caramel and Dried Fruit are the main drivers accompanied by some Coastal and Peaty notes. After a while I also get a few hints of Burning Paper and new PVC bottles. They are not strong enough though to be considered as off-notes. The Alcohol is noticeable but not in a Harsh way. On the Nose, the Black Rock is not really bad but it's a bit bland. Taking Islay Light Malt to the next level.
Palate: Young, Thin, slightly Hot and Bitter Sweet with Toasted Cereals, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Molasses, Straw, Heather-Honey, Blackberry (The Fruit), Dusty Road, Citrus Peel, light Peat/Smoke, light Iodine, Ashes, Tobacco, Pepper, light Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Cocoa Powder, Menthol and hints of Burnt Paper and Bitter Chocolate.
Finish: Light, Short, Watery and Bitter Sweet. Dry towards the Bitter end. I get notes of Metal, Plastic and Rubber that should not be there. I also find some light Factory Smoke, Dirty Earth, Ashes, Alcohol, Salted Caramel, Dried Herbs, Refill Wood, Tobacco, light Iodine, Burnt Paper, Orange Peel, Stale Sugared Espresso, Cocoa Powder, something like Rotten Fish and light Spices like Pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon. A faint hint of Menthol cigarettes.
Rating: 78
Visit May 2017
Palate: Young, Thin, slightly Hot and Bitter Sweet with Toasted Cereals, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Molasses, Straw, Heather-Honey, Blackberry (The Fruit), Dusty Road, Citrus Peel, light Peat/Smoke, light Iodine, Ashes, Tobacco, Pepper, light Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Cocoa Powder, Menthol and hints of Burnt Paper and Bitter Chocolate.
Finish: Light, Short, Watery and Bitter Sweet. Dry towards the Bitter end. I get notes of Metal, Plastic and Rubber that should not be there. I also find some light Factory Smoke, Dirty Earth, Ashes, Alcohol, Salted Caramel, Dried Herbs, Refill Wood, Tobacco, light Iodine, Burnt Paper, Orange Peel, Stale Sugared Espresso, Cocoa Powder, something like Rotten Fish and light Spices like Pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon. A faint hint of Menthol cigarettes.
Visit May 2017
Drinking Advice:
Added Water completely kills this Bowmore.
Rating: 78
Nose: 21 - Taste: 19.5 - Finish: 18.5 - Overall: 19
Bowmore is the oldest Distillery on Islay and was founded in 1779 by David Simpson. It changed hands a couple of times along the years but since 1994 the Japanese Suntory group controls Bowmore. Bowmore still malts around 30% of the Barley on their premises. They currently produce around 1,3 million liters of Alcohol. The core range includes the NAS Small Batch Reserve, the 12, the 15 Darkest, the 18 and 25 Years. Some of the Bowmore Spirit is used in Blends like Rob Roy and Black Bottle. We visited the distillery in 2014 and 2017. I really like the Malting Floor. Nice Shop and Visitor-Centre. Certainly well-worth the visit.
The Black Rock was released for the Travel Retail Market in 2014 as part of a trilogy that also includes the Gold Reef and the White Sands. In the meantime the Black Rock is available elsewhere as well. It is named after the Black Rock in Loch Indaal and is visible when you visit the distillery.
🍷 The Spirit:
Bowmore has 2 pairs of Stills. The Lyne arms point slightly upwards and produce a Medium-Bodied, lightly Medicinal Spirit. The Water is sourced from the River Laggan. Lack of rain can upset Bowmore's production as we have seen in the past.
The Black Rock matured in a mix of (mainly) Spanish Sherry casks and Bourbon barrels. Judging by Aroma and Flavour I would assume they were probably 2nd and 3rd Refill casks.
Drinking Experience: Below Average.
Conclusion:
Oh dear, first the Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair and now this Black Rock. If I could I would move to Islay tomorrow because I simply love the place. And I love a lot of their Single Malts. But not these two I'm afraid. I reviewed the Stiuireadair here so Back to Black Rock! The Nose is not too bad actually but on the Palate and in the Finish this Bowmore totally disappoints. Young, Thin, Bitter, Rubber and Metallic are not the terms I would like to apply to any Bowmore Single Malt. Better casks and a higher ABV could have upped the Black Rock but that's daydreaming. As it stands this is not a Single Malt I can recommend. If you like Sherried Bowmore go for The Darkest 15 Years instead. It's hard to believe that the Black Rock hails from a distillery that produced such stunners as the 17 Years.
General Remarks:
🏣 The Distillery and Today's Whisky:
Bowmore is the oldest Distillery on Islay and was founded in 1779 by David Simpson. It changed hands a couple of times along the years but since 1994 the Japanese Suntory group controls Bowmore. Bowmore still malts around 30% of the Barley on their premises. They currently produce around 1,3 million liters of Alcohol. The core range includes the NAS Small Batch Reserve, the 12, the 15 Darkest, the 18 and 25 Years. Some of the Bowmore Spirit is used in Blends like Rob Roy and Black Bottle. We visited the distillery in 2014 and 2017. I really like the Malting Floor. Nice Shop and Visitor-Centre. Certainly well-worth the visit.
The Black Rock was released for the Travel Retail Market in 2014 as part of a trilogy that also includes the Gold Reef and the White Sands. In the meantime the Black Rock is available elsewhere as well. It is named after the Black Rock in Loch Indaal and is visible when you visit the distillery.
Visit May 2014
🍷 The Spirit:
Bowmore has 2 pairs of Stills. The Lyne arms point slightly upwards and produce a Medium-Bodied, lightly Medicinal Spirit. The Water is sourced from the River Laggan. Lack of rain can upset Bowmore's production as we have seen in the past.
Visit May 2014
🌲 The Wood:The Black Rock matured in a mix of (mainly) Spanish Sherry casks and Bourbon barrels. Judging by Aroma and Flavour I would assume they were probably 2nd and 3rd Refill casks.
Drinking Experience: Below Average.
Conclusion:
Oh dear, first the Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair and now this Black Rock. If I could I would move to Islay tomorrow because I simply love the place. And I love a lot of their Single Malts. But not these two I'm afraid. I reviewed the Stiuireadair here so Back to Black Rock! The Nose is not too bad actually but on the Palate and in the Finish this Bowmore totally disappoints. Young, Thin, Bitter, Rubber and Metallic are not the terms I would like to apply to any Bowmore Single Malt. Better casks and a higher ABV could have upped the Black Rock but that's daydreaming. As it stands this is not a Single Malt I can recommend. If you like Sherried Bowmore go for The Darkest 15 Years instead. It's hard to believe that the Black Rock hails from a distillery that produced such stunners as the 17 Years.
Jan van den Ende September 28, 2017
Visit May 2017
