Bowmore The Devil’s Casks Aged 10 Years Small Batch Release II

Style: Sherried and Smoky

Rating: ☆☆- [Highly Recommended]

Nose:

Deep treacle and red dates sticky pudding set in at the front. Subtle, light and clean tropical fruits-floral riding the peppermint gale and glides at a higher level. Beef stock, or sulphur? Either it is working to its favour. Ginseng and liquorice roots. Brine blotches combine with the sherry and form a smoky pu-er tea while also applying some mineral and caramel touches at the same time. Red chilli slices, coffee beans and Jaffa cake, very dynamic.

Palate:

Land on feisty side as bird’s eye chilli flares up, legion of sherry fruits emerges as you adapt the hotness. Strawberry parfait, other assorted red fruits - plums, hawthorns, cranberries, goji berries and dark cherries brewing and integrated together in a light umami broth, watermelon salted caramel ginger crunch slice, wow, there is so much going on. Tofu, raspberry chocolate sprinkles, light-weighted tropical fruits and white floral core rising within. Muscovado sugar simmering with green peppermint. Soft seashore breeze, ginseng roots, a malty bite with a lemon and orange tail.

Finish:

Sherry finish as expected, sultanas, a smoky kiss, medicinal tang and tropical fruits lingering on. Soft and sweet.

Thoughts:

Funny enough, this bottling did not make a big impression on me when I first tried it (was too hot). After 5 years, maybe it has opened up, or my palate has evolved, I am beginning to appreciate this expression - so heavily sherried yet somehow the “Bowmore DNA” remains intact, exquisite balance of sherry, the interactions of these elements create an incredibly vibrant dynamic, multilayered while very well-integrated. A revelation for me.

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