After a travel retail edition in 2014 (white label) this is the wider 2016 release that you can also find in regular stores. Bowmore Springtide is matured predominantly in first-fill Oloroso casks, with some second-fill added. Altough I must add this is based on the white label, this one simply says ‘Finest Oak Casks’.
I’ve had this one in a line-up in a sherried whisky tasting once, where it was very well received.
Bowmore Springtide
(54,9%, OB +/- 2016, 4000 btl.)
Bowmore SpringtideNose: medium sherry, with nice hickory smoke, leather and red berries. Slightly modern with its fresh oak shavings and pencil notes, but but the typical early-2000s fruits are also present (mango mostly). Cinnamon, a little vanilla and cocoa powder. Light maritime notes as well.
Mouth: again, very nice flashes of tropical fruits (mango, orange liqueur), mixed with toffee, figs and raisins. Campfire on a beach, as well as crushed peppercorns, a little camphor and ginger. Blackcurrants. Briney notes towards the end.
Finish: long, on dried fruits, salted walnuts, spicy oak and smoke.
Nice fruity notes, mellow smoke and a good dose of active wood. It may lack a bit of richness but it’s still a good Bowmore. A little expensive though. Some bottles left, check Master of Malt for instance.
Score: 87/100