Bowmore 15 Year Old Laimrig batch 1

Bowmore Laimrig was first released in 2009 and an annual batch has been available since 2011, however there was no batch number on my bottle. Bowmore Laimrig was matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished for about a year in ex-sherry butts. It was named after the Gaelic word for ‘pier’.

The nose starts with an alcoholic punch that is quickly followed by flavours of raisins, raspberry syrup, chocolate and cherries. There is also very light smoke and some earthiness. Altogether this reminds me more of red wine than the sherry influence that I would have expected.

The palate is medium-bodied and spicy. There are more cherries and raisins, followed by liquorice and ginger, together with plenty of tannic notes.

The finish is of medium length and warming. Towards the end this becomes quite herbal and ends on notes of cherries and grass.

This is an intriguing and complex Bowmore expression, in my opinion much more interesting than the fare that we usually get offered from this distillery. These are big and bold flavours that go well together and are superbly balanced. I will make sure to secure another bottle when the next release comes out.

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