Bowmore distillery was founded in 1779 by John P. Simson before ownership passed to the Mutter family, who held it until the distillery closed in 1915 for ten years, before being purchased and passing through various hands during the 20th Century before falling under a subsidiary of the current owner, Bean Suntory. This conglomorate has a vast spirits portfolio that includes, just in Scotland, the Ardmore, Auchentoshan, Bowmore, Glen Garioch, and Laphroaig distilleries, along with producing the McClelland’s single malt range. It has an annual production capacity of two million liters and the waste heat from the distillation process heats a nearby public swimming pool built in a former warehouse. Through a combination of longevity of operations and careful management, Bowmore currently houses the oldest and most diverse set of whiskies on Islay. The Bowmore 12 is the benchmark of the distillery’s core range, and features maturation in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks.
Distillery: Bowmore
Region: Islay
Age: 12 years
Strength: 40%
Price: $66.99
Maturation: American oak ex-bourbon and European oak ex-Oloroso sherry casks
Location: Bowmore
Nose: Peat, brine, apricot, corn syrup, grape, molasses, apple, fig, key lime, grain
Palate: Molasses, toffee, smoke, mesquite
Finish: Spearmint, smoke, burned sugar, key lime, wintergreen
Comments: Does not need water but could function really well in a cocktail. Ideal for those who only like a little of the smoke/peat profile.
Adam – I really enjoy how luxrient the Bowmore 12 is on the nose. No rough edges here. The toffee is up front with a hint of loamy peat; fruits lurk in the background but they can be hard to individually tease out. There’s a little barley and brine to go along with the citrus. The smoke missing on the nose finally arrives on the palate wrapped in a lighter version of the molasses, along with a small zing of brine and citrus bursting to the finish if you hold it in your mouth for a moment. The smoke/brine tandem come to the fore the longer it sits in the glass. A purposeful, well-balanced dram that leaves you more refreshed than might be expected from an Islay. Good for all seasons. Very engaging, and compliments chocolate.
Kate – Horse sweat on the nose. It’s bitter on the finish like an old fashioned is bitter.
Henry – A rich nose of grape, apple, fig, and wintergreen with an undertone of peat – just the right amount. The fig and peat notes are particularly intertwined, and come out in different amounts depending on how you nose the glass. Smooth on the palate, with gentle fruit and smoke, with just a hint of wintergreen/mesquite. Delicious. This is a whisky that does not rush you into the finish. It lingers on the palate, and languidly leads into a juicy and long finish which only makes you want more.
Ben – The Bowmore 12 smells easy. For having sweeter notes, it does hang out in the bitter zone.
Its like a very nice grass fire: sweet, smoky, and a little briny.
Bill – Nice briny Islay peat on the nose. Citrus is big here, but it’s more like a key lime than the usual orange or lemon. Earthy. The palate is distinctly toffee, deep down, sugary and caramel but distinctly “toffee.” Dry mouthfeel. Not oily at all, perhaps the citrus playing into that. The finish is long and drawn out, smoky and briny, and the citrus rides through, staying with key lime likely because of the brine. This is dry on the palate but the finish is super long. This is stable. I’d love to see what this scotch is like with a sherry finish.
Evelyn – The Bowmore 12 is sort of like you’re smelling margaritas. Very earthy on the palate. Musty. Like they tried to make toffee but failed. Someone balanced this deliberately. There’s bitterness but it is not unpleasantly bitter.
Sam – Nose of tonic water and cumquats, a little bit of preserved lemon. Crushed grass mixes with light smoke peat notes. Very earthy and citrus forward. Dark corn syrup lurks below all the other notes. Dry and spicy hot at very first, then it moves into smoke like burning chaff from wheat or barley. The citrus hangs around but isn’t a major player. The burnt corn syrup flavor comes in at the end. Its like a very nice grass fire: sweet, smoky, and a little briny.
