Bowmore 10 yo 2003 (50,2%, Whisky-Fässle 2013, bourbon hogshead)
Nose: chiselled, modern Bowmore which means moderate but ultra-clean peat, seaweed and lots of briney notes. Quite some nice leafy notes, wet ferns and damp cellars. Some wet chalk and olives. But also fresh citrus and traces of sweetness and pepper in the background. Impeccable spirit.
Mouth: briny, lemony. Perfect strength, with lots of punch but also a nice silkiness. More peat than on the nose, though still no peat blast. Again a chalky note and crystallized lemons. Ginger and a zesty bitter touch. Sandy beaches. A little pepper.
Finish: smoky and zesty, with some sweet herbs showing up.
Recent production at Bowmore was of high standards. At just 10 years old, the result is fairly simple (much more so than 1990’s production) but very difficult not to like. Around € 80.
Score: 87/100