Fourteen years old Bowmore 1991 that scores 94 points on Whiskyfun! It’s bottled by Bill & Maggie Miller of the Scotch Single Malt Circle in 2005.
Bowmore 14 yo 1991 (59,6%, Scotch Single Malt Circle 2005, cask #575)
Bowmore 14 yo 1991 (59,6%, Scotch Single Malt Circle 2005, cask #575)Nose: punchy, with medium peat and lots of spices (pepper, ginger, clove). Maritime notes of dried seaweed and light hemp. Lots of flinty notes. Clay. Then more on tobacco and leather. Light farmy notes as well, which add a hint of Brora (the 1980s kind though).
Mouth: quite hot. Tobacco and tar, mixed with a vague fruitiness and rounded (subtle) sherry notes. Big chilli pepper. Noticeable oak. Salty liquorice and Seville oranges. Slightly harsh. With some water, it gets rounder, with Mokatine candy.
Finish: long, peaty and peppery.
A slightly fierce Bowmore but very good once water is added. Sharp, phenolic with an above average complexity. This may have been a nice surprise in 2005, but I think in the meantime it became clear that the 1993-1995 production is even better.
Score: 87/100