Bowmore Black 42 Years Old 40.5% 1964

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (91)

A vatting of five oloroso sherry casks, from Bowmore’s first distillation using indirect steam heating (vs. direct firing). We absolutely adored the first edition of the older Black Bowmore (96) but found the second and the ‘final’ (at the time) editions slightly lumpish and too much on the ‘blackberry jam - chocolate’ side, the final edition being even a bit tannic, but they were still great whiskies (both 91). No need to say we’re very curious about this Black Bowmore Reloaded...

Colour: very deep amber. Nose: yes! It all starts on an extreme and stunning fruitiness like with most Bowmores from the 1960’s, but with many added layers. I’d say the first impression mixes squashed oranges, chestnut purée, milk chocolate and mint but there’s much more. It gets more frankly fruity after that wonderful attack, with the expected tangerines, blood oranges and papayas (but no passion fruits this time) and then more maritime, with a little iodine, dried kelp, fresh clams... The mint strikes back together with a little camphor and eucalyptus, then quite some dried fruits (prunes, figs, also ginger), and we’re finally back on crystallised tangerines, with also quite some heather honey. Oh, and also notes of oxtail, even Parma ham. Not a single hint of over-ageing and no excessive oakiness whatsoever.

Mouth: more obvious oak now, liquorice, strong black tea, dark chocolate and orange zests. I find it rather bitter but it’s pleasant bitterness. Notes of spearmint chewing gum, green tea, un-sugared coffee, apple skin, orange zest, bitters... Very nice dryness I must say but you have to like that. Maybe not as luscious as on the nose, nor as complex, but that almost always happens after 30 years of age I think, not to mention after 40 (who said it’s just like men?)

Finish: probably not excessively long but the citrus fruits are back alongside the chocolaty notes. Quite some walnuts too and a rather gingery aftertaste.

Well, I’d say that the most interesting part of this new BB is the nose (maybe 80% of the whole happens there actually) whilst the palate is probably a little less remarkable, but the whole is a very great whisky, no doubt.