Bowmore

As I mentioned before, Bowmore has become my favorite scotch. I now own, I think, seven bottles. Let me see if I can list them out:

1. Bowmore 12 y.o.
2. Bowmore 17 y.o.
3. Bowmore Dusk
4. Cooper's Choice 15 y.o. distilled in 1990
5. Prime Malt 21 y.o. distilled in 1982
6. Montgomerie 12 y.o. distilled in 1989.
7. Bowmore Special Edition 1989 Cask Strength.

I haven't tried the last one yet, but all the others I have. The 12 y.o. is nice and peaty, great for every day drinking. The 17 y.o. is subtle -- a scotch I really have to be in the mood for. The dusk is finished in Bordeaux barrels, so it is the sweetest of the Bowmores. I bought this one in the duty free in Narita Airport on my way back from Thailand. Some people really think this is a nasty malt, but Michael Jackson (a legend in the whisky world) gave it high marks. I think it works really well as a digestif.

My favorite thus far is the Cooper's Choice. I bought the Cooper's Choice at Milroy's of Soho (a great source of choice whisky in London) and have not regretted the purchase. I'll probably dedicate some future blog to a tasting of this bottling, but it helps to have the drink in front of you. Right now I have the Montgomerie (oops, I already finished it), which has a more medicinal smell. It's quite different from the standard Bowmore 12 y.o.

Finally, the Prime Malt. We cracked this one open at work last Friday (occasionally on a Friday afternoon around 5pm we have a dram to ease us in the weekend, commiserate over the tough week we've had, and enjoy each other's company in a relaxed atmosphere). The 21 y.o. has almost got more peat than the 17 y.o., but that may be my imagination. It is very smooth, not dark, and drinks nicely neat.

If you haven't tried Bowmore yet, try some soon. It is well worth it.