Tried it at a local whisky pub at a friend’s bachelor party so did not get a complete tasting in. A single malt at 43% with a darker color likely influenced by the finish in the Oloroso sherry casks.
The aroma was smooth, smoky, seemed to have a meatiness at the start, and then after 5 minutes it became a bit sweeter and the sherry influences came out. After adding water I sensed a saltiness/seawater influence and just like Lagavulin 16 year old, after adding water most of the peatiness was absent so it was a nice complexity to experience.
The taste started off with a lot of alcohol burn but eventually smoothed out (not as smooth/elegant as the Lagavulin 16 though), smoky, and after water I got oak/woody influences.
Overall it wasn’t a bad whisky and it is something I would try again, but it wasn’t as complex as I would have liked. I would like to compare this to different expressions from Bowmore.
Tried dram on: July 2012
WWC Recommendation: Recommended based on quick sampling, but I might want to try another before buying the bottle. I wasn’t in love with it, but was nice overall
ZLN