Bowmore Bw5 (Elements of Islay)

This is Bowmore Bw5, the fifth expression from this distillery in the Elements of Islay series and the best one so far, according to the TWE staff.

It is a vatting of 1995 and 1996 casks, and as you know these have been excellent years for the distillery (see The Whisky Agency’s Faces release).

 

 

Bowmore Bw5 - Elements of IslayBowmore Bw5
(50,2%, Elements of Islay 2015, 50 cl)

Nose: a very classic, clean and balanced Bowmore. There’s medium smoke and medium coastalness, on the same level as the rich sweetness. Creamy vanilla. Lemon candy, tinned pineapples and faint tangerine. Also a nice fresh minty note.

Mouth: coastal start, slightly hesitating, but then a great wave of pink grapefruit, mango and sweet lime comes along. Almost as if they vatted a few litres of Irish whiskey as well. Excellent, especially because the usual peat smoke, pepper and kippers make some way. Sweet and fruity Bowmore.

Finish: maybe not that long, but rounded and smooth.

Perhaps too sweet with too little smoke for some, but I love this style. Recommended stuff. Too bad it’s also quite expensive: around € 120.

Score: 90/100