Bowmore 1996 Review

Country: Scotland

Region: Islay

Brand: Bowmore 1996 Sherry Finish

Selected by and Bottled for Wilson & Morgan, Edinburgh

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 16 Years

ABV: 56.6 %

Date: 25/12/2013

Colour: Dark Gold/Copper/Hint of Orange

Nose: Give this Bowmore sufficient time in the glass to breathe. At least half an hour or so. There's quite some Alcohol. Work your way around it and you will find elegant Sherry notes, subtle Peat and Smoke, Red Fruit, Orange Liqueur, Pineapple Marmalade, Green Apples, Salt, Oak, Cinnamon, Cardamom, gentle Maritime notes, Honey, Hay, Almonds, Leather and hints of Espresso, BBQ and Balsamic Vinegar. There are many aromas to be discovered here. I do believe however that a slightly lower ABV of around 50% would have benefited this Bowmore. The Alcohol is a bit too present.

Palate: Quite different from your average standard Bowmore bottlings. It's quite Spicy actually with Pepper, Salt, Cardamom and Nutmeg. But Creamy at the same time with juicy Peat, Honey, Sherry, Charred Wood, Marzipan, Nuts, Orange Zest, Lemon, Green Apples, Tobacco, Herbs, Leather and Menthol.

Finish: Middle Long and basically Dry with Red Fruit, gentle Peat and Smoke, Malt, Honey, Nuts, Vanilla, Pepper, Salt, Green Apples, light Maritime notes, Cigar Ash and Menthol. 

I added a couple of drops of water. On the Nose the Red Fruit, Orange and Honey are stronger. More Cardamom, Pepper, Menthol and Licorice on the Palate. You should try this out both with - and without Water.

Rating: 88.5

Nose: 22 - Taste: 22.5 - Finish: 22 - Overall: 22

General Remarks: The Wilson & Morgan Company is an Independent Bottler, based in Italy. Owners are the Rossi family that started importing Blends in the sixties. Single Malt Selection was added in the 1980's and in 1992 Wilson & Morgan was founded by Fabio Rossi to attend the high end Single Malt market. At various distilleries, W&M selects barrels for their Barrel Selection series. Most of the casks mature at the distillery itself. The Bowmore I'm tasting today was distilled in 1996 and bottled in 2012. It matured in Ex-Sherry Butt # 960004. No artificial colouring was added and the Whisky is not Chill-Filtered. It sells at around 100 US Dollars. 

The Bowmore Distillery was founded in 1779 by John Simpson. It's the oldest Islay distillery, located in Bowmore. Since 1994 it is completely owned by Morrison Bowmore Distilleries, part of the Japanese Suntory Group.

Drinking Experience Neat: Very Good

Conclusion: This is a very nicely balanced Bowmore. You won't find a lot of Tea, Flowers, Soap and young Peat like in the younger standard Distillery bottlings. The Nose is elegant and subtle and on the palate the balance between Spicy and Creamy is very well done. Excellent Cask Selection by Wilson & Morgan. This Bowmore could have scored even higher if it would have been bottled at a slightly lower ABV of around 50%. Because in my opinion the Alcohol is not quite in balance with the other Aromas and Flavours. But other than that, this is a Single Malt I can fully recommend.   

Jan van den Ende                                                        December 2013

Laphroaig 2006 Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Islay

Brand: Laphroaig 2006 (Coopers Choice) 

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 6 Years

ABV: 46 %

Date: 23/12/2013

Colour: Pale Straw/White Wine

Nose: Quite Mellow actually for a young Laphroaig with Sweet Peat, light Smoke, Malt, Menthol, light Rubber, Espresso, Lemon, Straw, Heather, Grass, Dry Meat (Carne Seca), Salt and hints of Tar, Leather and Shell Fish. The Alcohol is nicely integrated, remarkable at this age.

Palate: Sweet and Spicy with Sweet Peat, light Smoke, light Iodine, Tar, Brine, Pepper, Salt, Nutmeg, Nuts, Lemon, Vanilla and hints of Rubber and Mint. The ABV of 46% is spot on.

Finish: Quite Long, Spicy but still Mellow with Sweet Peat, light Smoke, Tar, light Licorice, light Rubber, Brine, light Iodine, Vanilla, Nuts, Pepper, Salt and a hint of Pineapple.

I added a bit of Water and you get some extra Floral tones on the Nose. But the Palate and Finish become too Watery. Better sip this Laphroaig neat.

Rating: 84.5

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

General Remarks: The Laphroaig Distillery was built in 1810 and is located in Port Ellen on the isle of Islay. It's one of the few remaining distilleries that malt part of their Barley. Today it's part of Beam Incorporated from the USA.

The Single Malt we are tasting today was distilled in 2006 and bottled in 2012. It was matured by - and bottled for The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. Ltd under their brand name Coopers Choice. This Independent Bottler was founded in 1992 by Brian Cook, a guy with over 20 years of experience in the Malt Whisky Industry. It matured in an Ex-Bourbon Hogshead with Cask # 4361 and costs around 60 US Dollars. This whisky is naturally coloured and not chill-filtered.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: This is quite mellow for a 6 year old Laphroaig. Nice, inoffensive Sweet Peat, only light Iodine and quite a few Floral tones. The Sea is always close but never in an overwhelming way. Very nice Single Malt if you like Highland Whiskies and have just started to explore the peated Islays. If you are an experienced heavy Peat-Lover on the other hand I would advise you to look elsewhere. 

Jan van den Ende                                                      December 2013

I would like to wish all my Whisky Friends a Merry Merry Christmas! Enjoy it with your family and, of course, a very special dram! 

Cheers!

Jan

Talisker 18 Years Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: Talisker 

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Region: Highland (Island: Skye)

Age: 18 Years

Alcohol: 45,8%

Colour: Golden Amber with an Orange touch. Caramel is added unfortunately.

Nose: It's important to give the Talisker 18 years sufficient time to breathe. My first impressions are Sweet Peat, Campfire Smoke, light Iodine, Leather, Tar, Driftwood, Old Books, Furniture Polish, Vanilla, a hint of Perfume, Pepper and a pinch of Salt. A bit of Alcohol is still present. Still, it's a very mellow Nose. After a while I get some Citrus, Toffee/Butterscotch, Honey, Dark Berries, Tobacco and Dried Herbs. All in all not a whole lot different from the 10 years but a bit softer and more complete. 

Taste: The best part of this Talisker in my opinion. A very nice combination of Sweet, Fruit and Spicy with Sweet Peat, Tar, light Smoke, Salt, Pepper, very light Rubber, Citrus, Malt, Oak, light Vanilla, Honey, Espresso, Dried Herbs, very light Licorice, Coconut and a hint of Smoked Salmon. Very nice balance between the flavours. In this department the 18 Years clearly beats the 10 Years. 

Finish: Middle Long and certainly more Mellow than the 10 Years. I find Sweet Peat, Lemon, Grapefruit-Juice, Nuts, Pepper, Salt and quite a bit of Dry Mint towards the end. Nice but not as memorable as the spectacular Finish of the 10 Years.

I added a bit of Water and you get extra Citrus on the Nose, Palate and in the Finish. I do not recommend to add water to the Talisker 18 Years.

Rating: 89 

Nose: 22.5 – Taste: 23 – Finish: 21 – Overall: 22.5

General Remarks: The Talisker distillery is located in Carbost on the shores of Loch Harport on the Isle of Skye. It was founded in 1830 by Hugh - and Kenneth MacAskill and produces 2,6 million litres per year. It’s part of the Diageo Group. The Talisker 18 sells at around 100 US Dollars and that's an excellent Price/Quality Ratio.

Drinking Experience Neat: Very Good 

Conclusion: On the Palate this is without any doubt one of the best Whiskies I have tasted so far. Very nice balance between all the flavours. And some lovely Sweet Peat that is not at all aggressive. On the other hand I found the Nose slightly understated. I would have liked to see a bit more punch there. The Finish is the weaker part of this Single Malt although it's still good of course. But it pales when compared to the 10 years and it carries a bit too much Citrus in my opinion, especially Grapefruit. In summary, the Talisker 18 is a well-crafted Single Malt and a great Island whisky. I fully recommend it despite its little flaws. 

Jan van den Ende                                                            December 21, 2013