This is a really good scotch.

Bowmore Islay Single Malt 12 year.  Bowmore is supposedly the oldest Islay scotch.

As I stated in a previous blog single malts seem to be getting more expensive, by 5 t o10$ per bottle in my area, depending on the brand.

My favorite is Lagavulin 16, but that’s about 85$ per bottle.  I usually keep a lower priced but good bottle around for more frequent consumption.  Bowmore was a good candidate at 54$ and being an Islay scotch I knew it would be closer to my flavor category than Glenlivet or Glenfiddich.  I picked up a bottle and was immediately impressed.  It’s 5 bottles later and I’m finally getting around to this blog.

The aroma and flavor are really impressive.  Many of the Islay scotches lean towards the same flavor profile, smoky, salty, peaty, medicinal goodness.  Ardbeg, for example is quite salty, briny.  Lagivulin very medicinal and peaty.  All are strong.  I have had many friends who like highland scotches like Glenlivet and Belveine immediately turn off to Ardbeg, Lagavulin and other Islay scotches because the smoky peaty flavor was overwhelming.  I think they would like Bowmore.  The flavor is medium strength and there is a nice honey or caramel flavor that balances the smoke and peat, making it more complex and balanced.  While the flavor really stands out as extraordinary without comparison to others I would recommend this as a first taste of Islay scotch to friends who usually like highland scotch.  It’s almost a transitional scotch from sweet winy and fruity to peaty smoky medicinal.

I can’t say enough good things about this scotch and even though I still prefer Lagavulin 16 I haven’t bought any since discovering Bowmore 12.