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Торфяной Islay 40% с новым хересным профилем — водянистый и слабый; опытные ставят «средне», многие критикуют завышенную цену и потерю характера прежней бурбонной версии.
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В аромате — сдержанный дым (пепел, зола, дальний костёр), земляные и минеральные ноты, кожа, свежий хлеб, водоросли нори, а также хересные тона: шоколад, инжир, тёмные ягоды, изюм, сушёные фрукты, ваниль и лёгкая цветочная (фиалка) нотка. Вкус тонкий и водянистый: мягкий дым, дубовые танины, немного хересной сладости, личи, йод, местами картонная или бумажная сухость; послевкусие короткое, с ореховостью, кофе, шоколадом и порой неприятной танинной горчинкой. Главный упрёк почти у всех — низкая крепость 40%, из-за которой тело хлипкое, а вкус разбавленный и невыразительный; хвалят бархатистую текстуру, чистую хересную выделку без прогорклости и узнаваемый характер винокурни, а один опытный автор отметил насторожившую рыбную ноту в аромате.
Опытные ревьюеры сходятся на оценке «гладко, но заурядно» (61–83) и подчёркивают, что напиток слишком лёгкий и не нужен в своей ценовой нише; менее опытные дают более широкий разброс (73–84) и делятся на два лагеря — часть считает переход на херес удачнее прежней «двенадцатки», другая горько разочарована потерей старого бурбонного профиля и характера Bowmore. Сквозная и почти единодушная претензия — практически удвоенная цена при среднем качестве; оценки в целом согласованы и кучно держатся около 80.
I found the fish note a little off-putting and thankfully didn't pick it up on the palate. A pleasant dram, but more a session dram where you are happy for the mind to wander free.
| Нос |
82 |
Old plasticine, a hint of tinned fish in the background, some nuttiness. The fish note is quite subtle, but hard to lose. |
| Вкус |
83 |
The mouthfeel is pleasant, if a little thin. The taste starts off with a peaty note - quite earthy - with some notes of spice and nuttiness, although it is all quite subtle. The alcohol is quite subdued - quite delicate for an Islay dram. |
| Финиш |
82 |
Medium - the alcohol is quite gentle with a touch of nuttiness lingering. |
нос 82 · вкус 85 · финиш 82
The new entry-level class from Bowmore. So far OK, but very ambitious in terms of price. Peat only subliminally. 61-70 – Okay, but not more than 1 dram
| Нос |
66 |
Accessible, hardly any peat, light fruitiness. But rather flat. |
| Вкус |
54 |
Cardboardy, with light fruit |
| Финиш |
64 |
Rather short. From the third sip onwards there is a slight hint of chocolate. But it remains sticky. |
Smooth, unspectacular, average, ripples along on the palate. A Bowmore that I don't need, especially not in the price range.
нос 82 · вкус 81 · финиш 81
The Sherry is well made, there is no rancio or sour or acidic notes, it is velvety, with dried fruits, dates, figs, not too intrusive red fruits, dark honey, leather and earthy notes. But it is light. On the palate, it is very smooth, barely oily, you can hardly taste anything, lychees, medicinal vanilla, white grapes. Timid spices. And the finish is okay, nothing more, not very long, raisins, chocolate and coffee, heather earth. Slightly waxy peat, charcoal and dark berries. Roasted hazelnuts. It's not bad, but it's way too light. I don't understand how a 12-year-old can be so weak, despite its good maturation. https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2025/09/bowmore-12-yo-sherry-oak-cask.html
нос 83 · вкус 81 · финиш 83
нос 81 · вкус 80 · финиш 79
Sampled in a horizontal Bowmore tasting with 12 to 18 (Old and new Sherry Oak series), 25 and a SC. Look slightly darker and taste a tad sweeter than the old 12 - Does it differentiate from the old 12? From a price perspective? Yes. Taste? Nope I don't think so. Plus, the old one has spikes on palate that makes it different form the ambiguous "Scotch" category, but this feels nothing but just "Scotch"
нос 84 · вкус 83 · финиш 83
нос 78 · вкус 78 · финиш 77
The taste is OK to good. It also has a bit more sherry than the old 12 standard. The problem is the asking price. That's around a 100 percent increase over the previous price. So in other words: the price has practically DOUBLED! Erm... So that alone means a huge deduction in the B grade. [81 - 78 = 'ok' whisky -> but do I need a bottle?]
нос 84 · вкус 83 · финиш 84
The nose offers earthy, sweet smoke, nori leaves, leather and fresh bread. Then, in the mouth, it's watery with smoke and a hint of lychee – not much overall. What a shame!
That's exactly what I was afraid of with this whisky. I liked the old twelve precisely because of its pure bourbon old school profile. This whisky also succumbed to the new fashion, sherry sherry and sherry. The aroma is very sherry, chocolate, dense, slightly smoky and ashy. The taste is quite indistinct, ashy, slightly woody with a hint of iodine and of course the influence of sherry barrels can be felt in the form of old polished furniture and shavings from old parquet. I don't like this new version, I won't look for it.
Just plain malt and little sherry - not comparable to the old 12 year old ...
Nose Sherry first. Not sweet and rich, but dry, almost dusty. Accompanied by wood, like freshly sawn oak. A cool menthol note permeates the wine. The smoke remains subtle. No campfire, no tar. More of a distant glow in the background. And then that violet. Subtle, lightly perfumed, almost old-fashioned. If you're not looking for it, you'll miss it. The taste The smoke arrives first, gentle, like dry ash. Then comes the wood. Noticeable, but not bitter. Vanilla joins in. The sherry remains restrained, contributing a touch of spice and a slight bitterness. And yes, there it is again, that delicate, slightly soapy violet note. Not intrusive, but present. With water, the picture changes significantly. More violets, almost floral. A hint of salt emerges. The smoke recedes. The body now seems thin. Very thin. Almost fragile. Conclusion A whisky with charm, but lacking great depth. It displays genuine Islay characteristics, but remains too thin in structure. Simply a solid dram for any occasion. Tasty? Yes. Exciting? No.
Better than the old 12? Yes Twice as expensive as the old 12? Yes Worth the money? No Look around Islay, every other distillery has a bottling that is better for the money.
нос 81 · вкус 82 · финиш 81
нос 81 · вкус 81 · финиш 80
aroma: soft, flat, smoke, vanilla taste: flat, watery, tannins, smoke, something sweet somewhere in the background Only 40% feel. Watery, flat, but for me, it's perfect for a campfire
Nose: Slightly meaty, some chimney smoke, wet cardboard, a hint of sherry, faint malty sweetness, some citrus, stale breakfast tea, old dusty books. Everything seems rather light and undefined. You really have to search for the different aromas. With time: nothing changes. Maybe a bit sweeter. Taste: Some dark chocolate upfront (there’s the sherry), bitter oak tannins, a hint of cured meat, malty, faintly saline and smoky. The low abv makes for a very thin and watery mouthfeel unfortunately. Some stale tea and unpleasant tannic bitterness in the short finish. Conclusion: Wow, what a dissapointment. "Hand-selected oloroso sherry and ex-bourbon casks" states the label. Apparently this translates to "the most tired casks we could find in our warehouse". I'm a bit shocked by how boring and flat this one is. No Bowmore DNA, no character. The finish is almost non existent. In comparison, even the mediocre 15 Darkest sherry cask is worlds apart. Do they really think this is what people want to drink in 2024? 79/100
Bowmore 12 yro new label ABV: 40% Cask: Oloroso & Bourbon, Oloroso Finish Nose&Palate: Faint peat. New make spirit's beany aroma. The flavor is very light. Has Bowmore stopped being Bowmore just by changing its clothes? Score: 83 [Recommended to Try]
Tasted alongside a few standard bottlings from Japan and Ireland. Nose: unassuming, light smoky notes, a little sherry notes. Palate: Watery, with traces of sherry. It seems like a third-fill cask. Finish: short A bitter disappointment compared to previous bottlings. The premium price for a subpar product adds to the negative overall impression.
A disappointment across the board. Ashy smoke, barely any sherry. Watery and gone immediately. What were they thinking, bringing something like this to this price range? I'll never need it again.
Why couldn't this be done earlier? A rich body and a beautiful, light mineral nose with a hint of sherry. No trace of slurry or printing, no fried onions or cardboard. Delicate sweet peat, wax, raisins, dried apricots, baked sweet apples, vanilla and licorice, nutmeg and white pepper, a touch of fine tobacco smoke and rubber, nuts and coffee, mint and anise. 40% that don't spoil the taste at all.
(tasted in direct comparison with the 15yo Sherry Oak Cask and the 18yo Sherry Oak Cask) Restrained on the nose, but unmistakably a Bowmore on the palate. I'm greeted by smoldering smoke, burnt caramel, and dark berries. Notes of fig, blackberry, hints of leather, smoked bacon, and sweet cigar smoke, along with a touch of cinnamon and other baking spices. Charred oak and earthy notes. A consistently smooth mouthfeel and a pleasant sweetness. For an entry-level whisky from the core range, it has a lot to offer, and unlike many other standards in this price category, it also represents the distillery's specific character really well. Its only lacks strength, mainly due to the 40% alcohol content. Its big brother, the 15yo, does better in that regard. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this whisky.