Abraham Bowman 8 year old, Port Finish

This review will reflect samples I received from two different sources, @numen, and from my sister Mary Anne. For nice reference information on this whisky's production, please see @numen's review of it.

Nose: strong intensity highly perfumed roses and fruit, like a sherried malt, rather than a port-finished malt. Beautiful. The maple and oak wood bourbon flavours are strong and beautiful. Lots of vanilla, but blended with the spice flavours from both rye and from wood. There is caramel, but it is well-integrated. Score 24/25 for both

Taste: wine and bourbon flavours greet equally and immediately on the plate. The wine clearly tastes of port. In one sample the flavours seemed to be a close translation of the flavours from the nose, in the other, not. In one sample I got rhubarb, with a hint of bitter rhubarb, in the other I did not notice that. In one sample I felt that the port and bourbon flavours somewhat diminished each other and cancelled out, but the other sample did not give me that same impression. In the sample of which I liked the palate the lesser, I found that 20 minutes of air time and repeated samples greatly increased my enjoyment of the whisky. Scores 20/25 and 24/25

Finish: long, strong, warm, glowing finish, ending on wine-mellowed oak. Score 23/25 for both

Balance: the first source sample gave not the best balance, but became good when some time had elapsed for oxidation and on the third sip. The second source sample was crisp and integrated, with no seams showing. Score 22/25 for both

I would have rated the first sample 89 overall and the second 93. I am averaging out the grade to 91 points, but that might be a little conservative. I usually do not like wine flavours with rye grain whiskeys, but this is one which very definitely works for me