Bowmore 12 Year Old TWA Liquid Library

The Whisky Agency, a bottler from Limburg (Germany), where the famous Whisky Fair takes place every year (which I really need to go and visit sooner rather than later), has several series on the market, like the ‘The Perfect Dram’, ‘Private Stock’ and ‘Liquid Library’. This 12 Year Old Bowmore, matured on a bourbon cask in 1998 and bottled in 2010 at 51,8% ABV, is from that last named series.

Ooh…. This is a true Islay nose: brine, ashes, a bonfire on the beach and quite a bit of iodine and peat. Mineraly. Somewhat creamy, too, and a little sweet. A squeeze of lime, perhaps. And a bit sourish as well, like buttermilk.

The creamy attack is quite sharp – white pepper? – but soon fades. Again a bonfire and a bucketload of brine, but turning very sweet again… chocolate, I’d say. And lime. Fairly straightforward, but pleasing nonetheless. Does not need water in the least.

The finish is quite long on ashes.

This is a very good whisky in general and a great Bowmore in particular. It will set you back about 65 EUR and can still be found left and right.

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