Bowmore 19 Years Old SMWS 3.256 Hebridean holiday tingle 57.4% 1996

Professional reviews

BOW (90)

SMWS Tasting Notes

Flavour Profile: Peated

Colour: Wet sandy beach

The nose was an alliance between a wily witch wafting delicate perfumed smoke (violet. pear, old Cuban cigars) and a musselly mermaid, smelling of rock-pools, seaweed, seashells and corral. The palate was tasty and mouth-watering – sweet but also savoury (honey glazed ribs, habanero chillies, smoked mussels and aniseed). On the reduced nose, we found toasted hazelnuts, desiccated coconut, sugar-coated fennel seeds, chocolate, peat fire embers and something of the Hebridean holiday tingle after swimming in the sea wearing sun block. The palate was now sweet, salty, smoky and balanced – honey, orange zest, old leather and wood ash – moreish and relaxing.

Drinking tip: Could be a good beginner’s Islay – not too fierce – the acceptable face of smoke.