Bowmore 1990 Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Islay

Brand: Bowmore 1990 (Wiebers Castle Collection) 

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age:  12 Years

ABV: 43 %

Date: 13/11/2013

Sample Provided by Marcus from Germany. Thanks!

Colour: Golden Sunlight

Nose: A well balanced, laid-back and almost introverted combination of Fruit (Apples, Pears and Peaches), Soft Peat, Malt, Gentle Smoke, Lemon, Custard, light Oak, very light Spices and a pinch of Salt. Probably matured in an Ex-Bourbon Cask. Nicely integrated Alcohol.  

Palate: Slightly Thin Delivery. This Bowmore should definitively have been bottled at Cask Strength. I find Barley Sugar, Soft Peat, Vanilla, light Oak, Salt, Lemon, Pepper, Ginger, light Ashes and a hint of Iodine. I had expected a bit more after Nosing. On the Nose the introvert character of this Bowmore works fine for me but on the Palate I would have liked to see a bit more Power and Punch! 

Finish: Middle-Long, Dry and and ever so slightly Sour with Barley Sugar, Sweet Peat, Green Apples, light Smoke, Lemon, Pepper, light Ashes, a pinch of Salt and hints of Iodine and Milk Chocolate.

This Bowmore does not accept Water very well. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 84

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 21 

The Sample came from this bottle! 

General Remarks: The Bowmore Distillery was founded in 1779 by John P. Simpson. It is located on the South Eastern shore of Loch Indaal and is owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, part of the Japanese Suntory Group. The Bowmore we are tasting today was distilled in 1990 and matured in Cask # 964 for 12 years. It was bottled in 2002 by Independent Bottler Jack Wiebers Whisky World from Germany in the Castle Collection Series 7. The whisky is naturally coloured and not Chill-Filtered. It was sold at around 70 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: This is not your average Standard Bowmore with its characteristic - and sometimes overwhelming combination of Sweet (Sherry), Peat, Ashes, Iodine and Leather. This Bowmore 1990 is well-balanced but quite understated on the Nose. The relatively low ABV leaves the Palate slightly on the Thin Side and without sufficient Power. The Finish, although certainly not bad, does not leave a lasting impression. This could have been a great Islay but in the end it's "just" a good one! 

Jan van den Ende                                                         November 2013

Ledaig 2005 Review

Country: Scotland

Region: Highland - Island - Mull 

Brand: Ledaig 2005 

Type: Single Malt

Age: 6 Years

ABV: 53.6 %

Date: 11/11/2013

Colour: Pale Straw/White Wine

Nose: Lots of Dirty Peat, Wet Clay, Fresh Tarmac, Rubber, Charcoal, Soot, Ashes, Brine, Alcohol, Salty Licorice, BBQ Sauce, Herbs and Mineral Tones. After a while I get some Cereals, Salted Butter and hints of Grapefruit Juice, Lemon and Olive Oil. In a Blind Tasting I probably would have identified this as a Young Islay. I miss a bit of balance in the Nose as the Peaty/Smoky elements are quite predominant.

Taste: Young Spirit. It basically follows the Nose with Peat, Tar, Caramel, light Oak, Barley Sugar, Alcohol, Grapefruit, Straw, Grass, Lemon, light Vanilla, BBQ Sauce and Peppered Vodka. 

Finish: Long, Peaty, Herbal and Spicy with Sweet Barley, Cigar Ashes, Salt, BBQ Sauce, Pepper and Ginger. I have never actually licked an ashtray the morning after a successful party. But that's what my tongue was telling me some 15 minutes after having swallowed this Ledaig.

I added a few drops of Water and the Nose becomes Mineral, Herbal and Coastal. On the Palate some Fruity Tones appear. Think of Pears. The Finish becomes quite Hot with Pepper in the lead. I advise you to experiment with a bit of Water until you find the right combination.

Rating: 81.5

Nose: 21 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: The Tobermory Distillery is located on the Hebridean Island of Mull. It was formerly named Ledaig and was founded in 1798 by John Sinclair. Nowadays it is owned by CL Financial, based in Trinidad. The Distillery produces unpeated Malt under the name Tobermory and peated Malt under the old Distillery name Ledaig. The whisky is mainly used in blends like Black Bottle and Scottish Leader. The Ledaig we are tasting today was distilled in November 2005 and matured in an Ex-Bourbon Barrel with Cask # 12027. It was bottled by Independent bottler Malts of Scotland at Cask Strength in May 2012. This Ledaig is naturally coloured and not Chill-Filtered. It costs around 65 US Dollars but it will be very difficult to find it as only 180 bottles were available.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: I love it when Peat waves a successful combination with Fruit, Oak, Spices and Sherry. That' s not the case here. This Ledaig leans too heavy on the Peat, Ashes, Soot and Tar. This makes the Nosing and Tasting a bit too monotonous as far as I'm concerned. Heavily Peated Grapefruit Juice with a dash of BBQ Sauce!

Jan van den Ende                                                        November 2013

Glenglassaugh Evolution Review

Country: Scotland

Region: Highland - Speyside

Brand: Glenglassaugh Evolution (Limited Release)

Type: Single Malt

Age: NAS (Probably 3 years Old) 

ABV: 57.2 %

Date: 07/11/2013

Colour: Pale Straw/White Wine

Nose: Very Young, Fresh, Crisp and Floral with Grass, Hay, Malt, Buttered Toast, Honey, Toffee, Lemon, Oak and hints of Cherries and Gooseberries. The Alcohol is there of course but not at all in an irritating way.

Taste: Young but Creamy and Spicy with Vanilla, Banana, Honey, Butterscotch, Oak, Nuts, White Pepper, Alcohol and a touch of Lemon.

Finish: Dry and Creamy at the same time with Lemon Zest, Oak, light Licorice, Coconut Biscuits, Vanilla and light Spices (White Pepper).

I added a few drops of Water and on the Nose you get lots of extra Honey and Butterscotch. But Palate and Finish become a bit too Peppery for my taste. Still,  you should certainly try out a few drops!

Rating: 84.5 

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21

General Remarks: The Glenglassaugh Distillery is located in Portsoy, Banffshire and was founded in 1875 by James Moir and his two nephews William and Alexander Morrison. In 1892 the distillery was sold to Highland Distillers and it remained in their possession until 2008. It was closed three times in its history, most recently between 1986 and 2008. In 2008 it was revived by the Dutch Scaent Group. Finally, in 2013, Glenglassaugh was bought by The BenRiach Distillery Company that also operates BenRiach and GlenDronach. 

The Evolution is the follow up to the Revival. It matures in ex-Tennessee Whiskey Casks (George Dickel), is bottled at Cask Strength, is naturally coloured and not Chill-Filtered. Both the Evolution (November 2012) and the Revival were released before the take-over by BenRiach. The Evolution costs around 90 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: Very nice for such a young and immature Single Malt. It is a bit expensive for a 3 year old though. The high ABV did not bother me at all. Just imagine this Evolution after 12 years in the Cask when the Alcohol should be fully integrated and a better balance should exist between Wood, Spirit, Fruit and Spices. But I can't deny that I already thoroughly enjoyed sipping this Glenglassaugh.What a pity I only had a very small sample. I will certainly give more attention to this distillery in the near future. Well done! I hope and trust that the new owners will continue to produce quality spirits like this!  

Jan van den Ende                                                          November 2013