Bowmore Tempest 10 Years Review

A Storm in a Tea Cup!

Country: Scotland

Region: Islay

Brand: Bowmore Tempest Small Batch Release # 2

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 10 Years

ABV: 56 %

Date: 10/02/2013

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: This Bowmore needs serious time in the glass to open up. Nevertheless it remains rough and edgy as young Islay can be from time to time. It's quite Peppery and Mineral as well. The Alcohol is not at all integrated and you will need to find your way around it. This certainly ain't my favourite Bowmore Nose so far. Not surprisingly I find Dry Smoke, Ashes, light Tobacco, Leather, Salt, Brine and Spices like Lemon- Pepper and Cinnamon, accompanied by Herbs, Caramel, light Plastic, Candle Wax, light Orange, light Peach, Espresso and some Cured Meat.

Palate: Again, quite Peppery and Mineral with Dry Smoke, Lemon-Pepper, Salt, Brine, Citrus Peel, Cured Salami and Sugared Herbal Tea.

Finish: Middle-Long, Mineral and Dry towards the end with slightly Bitter Grape Fruit or Passion Fruit, Orange Juice, Lemon-Pepper, Cloves, Sugared Tea, Dry Smoke and Ashes. 

With a couple of drops of water the Nose calms down and loses its rough intensity. I get a bit of extra Fruit, Honey, Malt and light Peat. But Palate and Finish become too Thin for my taste. My advise is to carefully add 2 drops at a time until you find the desired strength.

Rating: 82.5

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

General Remarks: 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. The Tempest Vatted Small Batch Series consists of 10 Year old Bowmore spirit that matured in First Fill Bourbon Casks in the # 1 Vaults separated only by a single wall from the sometimes rugged and stormy Loch Indaal. So far 4 batches have been released and today I'm tasting Batch #2 that was released late 2010. It is not Chill-Filtered but it does contain E-150. It sells at around 70 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Average/Good

Conclusion: I have to admit that the name Tempest suits this Bowmore well in the sense that it's quite Edgy, Rough, Peppery and Mineral. It's almost as Moody as the Weather on Islay! Still, a Tempest is also fiery and strong and that this Bowmore ain't. I would have liked to see a bit more Balance and, well, Character. It's quite simple when you look beyond the Pepper. And it doesn't accept Water very well despite the high ABV. When summing it up I find that this Bowmore is not a bad Single Malt but not a price winner either. Will try to get samples of the other Batches as well for comparison.

Jan van den Ende                                                          February 2014

Bruichladdich 22 Years Review

A Crowd Pleaser!

Country: Scotland

Region: Islay

Brand: Bruichladdich 

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 22 Years

ABV: 46 %

Date: 08/02/2014

Colour: Light Golden

Nose: Soft and Pleasant, almost Subdued. I find nice Oak tones, Malt, Honey, 
Straw, Buttered Toast, Marzipan, Custard, Hazelnuts, Banana, Peach, very light Pepper, light Cinnamon, light Lemon Peel, Dried Herbs and a hint of Espresso. The ABV is spot on. Good balance between the Oak and the Distillery Character. Wouldn't have given it 22 years!

Taste: Certainly more Oak now. I also find Toffee/Butterscotch, Honey, Custard, Papaya Cream, Banana, Melon, Citrus Peel, Hazelnuts and Pepper.

Finish: Quite Long and Fruity with clear notes of Banana, Orange, Fruit Candies, and Lemon Drops, accompanied by Oak, light Pepper and a sprinkle of Salt.

Both neat and with a bit of Water this Bruichladdich is a pleasure to enjoy. I prefer it neat as I believe the ABV of 46% is the perfect hit.  

Rating: 86.5

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 21.5 - Overall: 21.5

General Remarks: The Bruichladdich distillery is located on the shore of Loch Indaal on the Rhinns of the isle of Islay. It was founded in 1881 by the Harvey Brothers and closed in 1994. In 2000 it was bought by a group of private investors (including Mark Reynier) and the whole distillery was dismantled and reassembled in 2001. It was sold in 2012 to Remy Cointreau. Bruichladdich is a distillery known for its many special expressions but lately they are also working on a core range that include a.o the Laddies 10, 16 and 22 years. The 22 Years I'm tasting today is non-peated, not Chill-Filtered and is naturally coloured. It was distilled around 1990, matured in Ex-Bourbon Casks and was bottled in 2012/2013. Prices may vary a lot from location to location but generally are in the 125-180 US Dollar range.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: If you only care for heavily peated Islays, you should leave the Bruichladdich 22 years alone. But for the rest of us I can safely recommend this Single Malt because it's difficult not to like this uncomplicated Whisky. The Nose is Soft and Pleasant and full of Fruit that interacts well with the Wood. More Oak on the palate but still enough Fruit, Honey and Custard to maintain an acceptable balance. And the Finish is like eating a bag of assorted Fruit Candies while drinking a glass of Orange Juice. A 22 year old Single Malt can't be cheap of course but it would make a great Birthday present that will certainly please both newbies and advanced Whisky drinkers.

Jan van den Ende                                                         February 2014

Silver Grouse 12 Years Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: The Silver Grouse

Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 12 Years

ABV: 45%

Colour: Golden Amber with Orange tones. Caramel was added.

Nose: First of all I advise you to give the Silver Grouse sufficient time in the glass. It's a while ago that I smelled a Whisky and could not identify one of the main Aromas but it's clearly the case here. I even have difficulties in describing it. Well, let's start with what I do get. Sherry and a hint of Sulphur, Sweet Red Fruit, Sour Apples, Dried Apricot, Honey, Barley, Milka Milk Chocolate, Toffee, Walnuts, Oak, Buttered Toast, light Vanilla and hints of Aniseed, Cinnamon, Espresso and Salt. Mainly Ex-Bourbon Refill but some Ex-Sherry Casks as well I think. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. The Silver Grouse has a very dark colour and I wonder if it's the added Caramel that I smell. Or maybe the Phosphor. Despite this small issue I find the Nose sufficiently interesting for a Blended Whisky. For sure Macallan is one of the vatted Single Malts here. 

Taste: Quite Sweet but slightly Sour at the same time with Sherry, light Sulphur, Cocoa Powder, Barley, Toffee, light Vanilla, Oak, Dried Fruits like Raisins and Apricot, light Chocolate and Spices like Pepper and Nutmeg.  

Finish: Middle Long and a bit like Rum or Bourbon with Oak, Vanilla, Cinnamon, light Sherry, Pepper, Nutmeg, Dried Fruits and light Menthol. 

I added a few drops of Water and you get more Barley, Fruit (Peach), Vanilla and Honey on the Nose. Palate and Finish do not show material differences with the exception of some more Pepper in the Finish. You should try to nose both with - and without Water. But better sip it neat!

Rating: 83.5 

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 21

Macallan Distillery

General Remarks: The Silver Grouse 12 Years Vatted Blend was created to celebrate the fact that The Famous Grouse was Scotland's best selling Blended Scotch for 25 Years. Caramel was added for colour and the Blend was Chill-Filtered at -8 Degrees Celsius. It is said to contain some Macallan, Highland Park and Glenrothes. The average price is 40 US Dollars. I bought a sample at Whiskysite in Rotterdam. I never saw it in any shop though, neither in Brazil nor abroad.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: This was certainly an interesting Blend to smell. Except for the UWA (Unidentified Whisky Aroma) I liked the Nose. Lots of Aromas to discover. Good combination of Sweet and Sour. With Water the Nose becomes Sweeter and you will find a nice Peach Note. The Palate and Finish are not quite that interesting and a bit too Sweet perhaps but certainly good enough for a Blend in this Price Range. If you can find it for around 40 US Dollars you should certainly get it. If all 40 US Dollar Blends would smell like the Silver Grouse 12 years, the Whisky World would be a better place!

Jan van den Ende                                                            February 5, 2014