What better way to celebrate Labor Day than with two new episode of Peaty Friday, am I right?

So, for today, I planned something rather special for you: two expressions from Bowmore, both bottled by the independent bottler Wemyss Malts, but very different one to another: Bowmore 1998 ‘Cacao Geyser’ and Bowmore 1995 ‘The Rockpool’.

The already reviewed ‘Cacao Geyser’ was a true cassis beauty and scored as a consequence 89 points. Thus, I am even more excited now for ‘The Rockpool’, since this one is not only three years older but also bottled at cask strength.

Facts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:	Bowmore 1995 ‘The Rockpool’
Bottler:	Wemyss Malts
Vintage:	1995
Bottled:	2014
Age:	19 Years Old
Category:	Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery:	Bowmore
Cask Type:	Hogshead
Number of bottles:	226
Strength:	57.2% Vol.
Colored:	No
Chill Filtered:	No

Nose

Light and lovely but lives up to its name: mineral and maritime with seaweed. Light smoke, which fits in perfectly. Then it gets a bit more floral with heather and even some lavender oil. A very, very light fruitiness in the background.

Taste

Heather honeyed peat smoke, very light in its appearance, and some ash. Balanced by sweet citrus fruits. The alcohol burns a bit but not in a bad way. A few rose peppercorns. Followed by salted seaweed with a slightly minerally touch. Also some fruits in between, could be oranges.

Finish

Long and sweet. Seaweed and red fruits.

Conclusion

Very high quality stuff! I love the huge amount of complexity, yet everything blends perfectly in. Again pleasantly different and extremely enjoyable.

Score: 91 / 100