Bowmore Laimrig (Gaelic for pier) has been matured in ex-bourbon casks, finished for about a year in Oloroso sherry butts and bottled at cask strength. Originally a 4500 bottle limited release for Sweden (which were finished in sherry oak for much longer) there have been annual widely available batches since 2011.
I’m trying Bowmore Laimrig bottled in May 2014. Contrary to previous editions, it doesn’t seem to mention the batch number or the number of bottles.
Bowmore 15yo ‘Laimrig’
(54,1%, OB 2014)
Bowmore 15yo ‘Laimrig’Nose: seems more than just a sherry finish. It’s packed with caramel, red fruits, raisins and smoke (a combination of regular peat smoke and gunpowder / rubber from the sherry). There’s also a prickle of antiseptics and a slightly winey touch. Some chocolate and tobacco.
Mouth: a bit fierce at first. Smoky tar and liquorice, but it also reveals roasted nuts, raisins and bags of spices (pepper, ginger, aniseed). Big saline notes too. Fades on tobacco notes and herbs.
Finish: long, slightly winey again, with ashes, oak and dried fruits.
A good one, very punchy and straightforward. There seems to be a bigger than usual whisky underneath the (also big) veil of sherry. Between € 75 and € 100, be sure to look around.
Score: 87/100