After our positive encounter with the Bowmore 19 Years Pinot Noir, we’re looking at one of its sister bottlings in the new travel retail range.
The new range is age stated (good) and it seems to maintain the fruitiness that we love so much (good).
Bowmore 16 yo – Ruby Port Cask Finish (43%, OB 2024, travel retail)
Nose: fairly winey indeed, although I’m not sure I would have identified it as Port. Lots of blackberries, autumnal leaves and hints of raspberry jam. Mild peat smoke in the background, along with leather and hints of lacquered meat. A bit of milk chocolate and black tea as well. There are flashes of brighter fruit, but I think they were bigger in the 19 Year Old.
Mouth: still grapey, with quite a bit of charred woody notes now too, along with the brown sugar sweetness. Plenty of (salted) walnuts with herbal notes and cinchona, making it a tad astringent. More leather. Then black pepper, some tannins and black tea take over. Some blackberries but none of the tropical hints.
Finish: medium. Only in the very end you get that sweet mango note, with ginger and grapes. Too little, too late.
The verdict is less positive here, reminding me of the old wine finishes again. A bit too heavy on the wine and oak spice, hiding the nice fruitiness of the spirit. At the same time the low ABV holds it back. Sure, you’re paying around 40 euros extra for only three years of maturation, but still I’d save up for the 19 Year Old. In theory a travel retail expression, but also seen at Whiskysite.nl for instance.