Scotch Whisky Review #118: Bowmore 12 Year

Distillery: Bowmore

Region: Islay

ABV: 40%

Age: 12 Year

Price: Don’t remember but I think it was about $10 for a pour at a cafe

Color: 1.0, Deep Copper. Chill Filtered and has Added Color.

Nose: Lots of caramel with a hint of citrus and a bit of peat smoke.

Palate: It’s got a really thin mouthfeel. It’s got a little bit of peat and a little bit of smoke going on but just barely enough to be noticeable. Some caramel and vanilla join the peat smoke as well.

Finish: Medium to short in length. The caramel and vanilla from the palate continue on here while the peat and smoke do not.

Conclusion: I would probably describe this dram as being to Islay whisky what Glenmorangie 10 is to sherried Speyside whiskies. It’s a nice, decently made basic dram that’s not offensive and relatively easy to drink. That said, it’s nothing special. If this was priced in the sub-$40 range, I think it might make for a nice staple bottle and perhaps a decent budget introduction to Islay. But when prices near $55-60 like they are around here, you can do much better with something like a Bunnahabhain 12 year. Would I buy a bottle? No.

Final Score: 73.

Scotch Whisky review #118, Islay Whiskey Review #11, Whisky Network Review #158

Scoring Legend:

• 96-100: The perfect dram, nectar of the gods.
• 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky.
• 85-89: Amazing, will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection (if feasible).
• 80-84: Very Good, maybe only one minor nitpick about the whisky keeping it here.
• 75-79: Good, quite enjoyable to drink.
• 70-74: Solid, wouldn’t go out of my way to get it.
• 60-69: Meh, still drinkable.
• Below 59: If you have a bottle of this, start cooking with it instead.