Bowmore 12yo 2001/2014 Douglas Laing Old Particular

Colour: White wine

Nose: Pineapple, trails of smoky peat, soot, hints of ginger. Predominant salty smoked bacon, and biscuits

Mouth: A soft body, oily on the palate, dried fruit: figs and dates, both salty and meaty with various spices: rosemary, thyme and coriander. But most importantly: charcoal smoked succulent roasted pig's meat.

Finish: Long and warm, with more notes of that glowing roast.

Conclusion My first guess would have been Caol Ila or maybe even Ardbeg, as I experienced some low-level bacon notes in those whiskies before. So when it was revealed that this was a 12yo Bowmore, I was simply stunned. This simply is a great whisky, not too complex, but what a treat! I was craving for some salty bacon after trying this one. The way this whisky was able to capture those spicy and meaty notes is nothing short of a miracle. Even more, when you compare this to a regular 12yo Bowmore, this is by miles the superior malt. A clear example of real cask selection skills, I will trace this one down for sure, it belongs in my cabinet.

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