Bowmore 2003 (Whiskyman)

This is the other release in the hard rock / metal-inspired series by The Whiskyman, a Bowmore 2003. Like the Glen Scotia 1992, it is nicknamed after an Iron Maiden song.

Bowmore 2003 ‘Children of the Dramned’  (47,6%, The Whiskyman 2014, 183 btl.)

Nose: starts very clean, coastal and sharp, but it grows wider and gains roundness. Still it’s quite minimal and focused on briney notes, olives and mezcal. Wet chalk. Some sugared lemon notes and a faint waxy sweetness. More coastal than peaty. A nice old-style metallic edge too.

Mouth: again superbly clean and coastal. Perfect strength as well. Seawater, chalk, lots of cold ashes and soot. Sugared lemon juice, moving towards nice pink grapefruit (echoes of 1993 Bowmore). Kippers and mezcal. Soft yeasty notes as well.

Finish: long, smoky, tarry, but surprisingly sweet.

We already knew the high standards of early 2000’s Bowmore, but this one raises the bar in terms of balance and tiny details. Around € 85.

Score: 88/100