Bowmore, the oldest distillery of Islay Island

Founded in 1779, Bowmore is the oldest distillery on Islay Island. It's one of the only five distilleries in Scotland to still produce its own floor malted barley. 

Bowmore makes well balanced, subtle whiskies with a phenolic content (peaty) slightly lower than the others Islay whiskies producers. It uses a big proportion of sherry casks, 1/3 of the global production is matured in it. It makes the elixir rounder. 

Situated on the shores of the Loch Indaal, Bowmore vaults are literally placed on the waterfront, even below sea level, justicating its marin notes.  

Springbank 10 y.o and Bowmore Enigma 12 y.o tasting
Let's taste together the Bowmore Enigma 12 years old...

Tasting notes:

Colour: Dark amber

Nose: Fresh marin breeze. Floral: lilac, lavander. Touch of honey. Sweet citrus, tangerine, very matured orange notes. Salty butter, caoutchouc.

Palate: Warm and complex (oily). Peated and salted. Fruity: light sherry, tangerine, lemon zest notes(bitter taste). Spiced. Nose characteritics confirmed.

Finish: Long, sweet and fresh. Peated, lightly salted with hints of Gentian.

ABV: 40%

The Bowmore Enigma is sweeter and richer than the standard Bowmore 12 y.o. It's a great value whisky. Well balanced between the peat and smoke and the sweetness of the sherry. I just expected more sherry tastes. Very pleasant dram! 

Slainte!

An enjoyment! A great Islay Cask Strength...

Several weeks ago, we had the chance to taste an impressive classic Islay malt whisky at Art & vins, Bordeaux, the Laphroaig 1995, 16 years old, Cask 48, Signatory vintage. This complex whisky matured from the 4th of April 1995 to the 16th of May 2011 in a single bourbon barrel. 

“You love it or you hate it!” As their ancient advert said, there is these two possibilities, you have certainly discussed once about this subject with some connoisseurs. Direct, without flourish, this powerful marine and peated malt whisky, create a real explosion of aromas in your mouth. Marin, because the distillery is literally locate on the waterfront. Laphroaig whiskies are renowned for their surprising medicinal taste, which make them unique.

Signatory Vintage?? It’s an independent bottler. Signatory Vintage’s goal is to offer a wide range of whiskies some of which are not even bottled by the proprietary distillery. This allows malt enthusiast to sample the huge variety of subtle differences that occur between casks.

To add proof of authenticity to their cask strength bottlings, Signatory always include the cask numbers, date of distillation, date of bottling and number of bottles produced.

Tasting notes

Colour: Bright golden yellow

Nose: Rich, very aromatic. Peaty, marine. Medicinal. Tannic oak. Mango, fruit-flavored candies.

Palate: Intense, well balanced. More and more peaty with ocean breeze. Spices such as clove and nutmeg.

Finish: Long. Peated with seaweed and charred wood taste. Ripe fruits and exotic fruits aromas.

ABV: 59,4%

Wonderful! To drink reading a book during a snowfall night...

Only slight snag is the price: 105/120€…

Sláinte!