The Whisky Exchange is on a roll. Just in time for the festive season, they’ve released a number of exclusive bottlings. We’ve had excellent oldies (Irish malt 1990 and Strathisla 1970) but there’s also this younger Bowmore 2001 selected from the Signatory Vintage stocks.
Bowmore 15 yo 2001 (55,6%, Signatory Vintage for The Whisky Exchange 2017, hogshead #20117, 233 btl.)
Nose: sweet red apples mixed with coastal notes and tar. Lemon candy. Golden raisiny touches too. Hints of seawater and wet fabrics / plastics. Then back to light mango. The candied fruitiness works well alongside the smoke and brine.
Mouth: coastal start, frankly salty, with mezcal-like smoke but then some tropical fruits come rolling in. Beautiful lime, hints of sugared grapefruit. Pineapple cubes. Really lovely. Lots of ashes, charcoal and hints of tar to balance it, but the fruit and brine shine through.
Finish: long, smoky, peppery, with a lingering sweetness.
Such a great tropical fruitiness in this Bowmore. Really lovely and perfectly drinkable at full strength too. Quite expensive but still recommended, exclusive to The Whisky Exchange.
Score: 90/100