Bowmore 12 Year Old

Nose: The peaty smell of a seaside clambake near a dying campfire. If you look for subtleties beyond this, you will find the light freshness of honey, hay, orange pith, and maybe--when the campfire breathes out-- french vanilla. (With time, the overall character softens to leather and orange peel.)

Palate: Entrance is sour orange and a drop of seawater. Becoming paler, into hay smoking in oil..., and then falling into lemon tang and the bitterness of salty liquorice.

Finish: Pale liquorice hangs on the back roof of the mouth with some remnant smoke. Around the tongue is angel cake laced with orange zest, although this latter sensation is somewhat pale.

There seems to be consensus on this one: It is a peated whisky that is easy, fresh and light-- and it is probably priced well for the experience. But for those looking for more, it can seem bland and unfulfilling. I recommend the 15 Mariner expression as the closest step up: it preserves this malt's character while both smoothening out sourness with raisiny depths and improving the finish.

Find where to buy Bowmore whisky