Another 'new' Bowmore...

[jazznut]

I tried this one on the weekend while in the country, and the whisky seemed entirely in its element as I sat with friends next to a bonfire beneath a star-studded sky.

Bowmore Darkest 15 Year Old – 43%

Preamble: This bottling represents the most recent incarnation of Bowmore Darkest, notable for specifying a minimum age on the redesigned label.

Colour: Amber gold with more than a hint of reddish mahogany.
Nose: Soft, composed and alluring. Sultanas and salt with a subtle whiff of smoke. Herbal fragrances, too.
Palate: A Sherry induced sweet lushness seamlessly leads to more crisply delineated malt overtones imbued with seaside notes of salt and peat. Clean, even bordering on refreshing, with a spirited edge reminiscent of the Mariner kicking in at the close.
Assessment: Strikes a well nigh perfect balance of Jerez cask extracted richness and the innate distillery characteristics. Fine integration of the various flavour elements.
Summary: The original Darkest, though oftentimes brilliant, was prone to an almost schizophtenic disparity between the aged distillate itself and the influence of the finishing casks, as well as suffering from inconsistency. This newer version addresses those shortcomings head-on and with style. Can Bowmore maintain the quality? I hope so!

P.S. The Bowmore and a 2006 Partagás Mille Fleurs made an ideal duo.