Malts of Scotland is currently releasing new bottlings such as three Glengoyne (1972 sherry, 1973 bourbon and 1997 sherry), a new Laphroaig and a Speyside 1993 sherry (the distillery named Speyside, not the region).

In the meantime, let’s review another bottling from the first series, an 8 year-old Bowmore distilled in 2000 and matured in an ex-bourbon cask.

Bowmore 8yo 2000 (60,1%, Malts of Scotland 2009, cask #800267, 215 btl.)

Nose: maritime associations (iodine, seaweed) with quite a lot of soaked breakfast cereals. Walnuts, wet wool. Medium ashy / smokey. At the same time, there are some candied elements (apple, lemon). Traces of sweet coffee and marzipan. Mouth: quite a malty start with a pleasant mouth-feel and lots of citrus, developing on medium peat and phenols. Getting rather hot and spicy but overall clean. Finish: medium long, very very salty now. Lemon and ginger.

Recent Bowmores can be pretty mature at very young ages, and this one is a good example. Interesting saltiness as well. Around € 42.

Score: 84/100