Hey Neighbour! I agree. Bowmore gets pummelled quite a bit. I actually quite like it and I think it’s a great scotch to introduce people to peat. Definitely a light, gentle smoke. Thanks for the great review!
Whisky Neighbour I certainly enjoyed my bottle, but don’t know that I would rush out to replace it. Too many other ones to explore! I’m always amazed (jealous) at the price differences between BC and Alberta. Bowmore 12 is $60 before taxes here! I have only ever bought it on sale, but even then, it’s never lower than $55. $40 is a steal for this one imo. At almost $70 after taxes, it’s a much tougher dram to swallow. For that price it should be at least 43% a.b.v.
I just opened a bottle of Bowmore 12 and I like it very much! Seems to me like a perfect introduction to Islay/smoky scotch in general. Makes me wanna try some other smoky/peated scotches. Of course, Ardbeg (tasted the TEN once this summer and liked it very much), Lagavulin, Laphroaig are the classics from Islay but some other ones I want to try are Talisker 10, Ledaig 10 and Highland Park 12 for example.
@@WhiskyNeighbour yeah, they surely rate higher, but they also are all priced higher than Bowmore 12, so it makes sense. Bowmore seems somewhat underrated and I think it gives a nice tasting experience for the price!
A lot of people turn up their noses at coloring and chill filtering, but, unless you can somehow manage to get a sample of the SAME whisky non-chill filtered and uncolored, there is no way to tell if it makes any difference to the taste of the whisky. You'd have to be able to intercept a sample at the distillery before it goes through those processes to know for sure. How many of us are in a position to do that? I'd say that number is pretty close to zero The only thing anyone can say for sure is that the bottling strength does make a difference on taste. The 40% ABV tells you that it's going to be fairly tame and uncomplicated. 43 or 46 would give it some oomph, but I don't begrudge them making a little extra money by extending it.
I certainly don't begrudge anyone making the money they can. When I talk about my tastes, it's only my opinion and my own preference. Also, it only represents where I currently am in this amazing whisky journey. I have found my tastes change over the years too. Thanks for your thoughts!
@@WhiskyNeighbour It wasn't your comment specifically I was referring to. Your mention of the coloring and chill filtering reminded me of others who have spoken with seemingly great authority about how they can taste the chill filtering and the coloring. That sort of attitude strikes me as so much posturing.
@@davidbroughall3782 thanks for clarifying. I am certainly no great authority! Just a guy who enjoys whisky and talking about it with friends. Have a great weekend!
Nice review. I’m here drinking my first few drams of Bowmore 12 (down to the top of the shoulders now), and while I’m not floored like I was with my first dram of Laphroig, I was kind of getting into the Bowmore. I just watched Ralfy more or less pan it and I thought the review was a bit harsh. I’m much more on board with your review. This not an interesting whiskey, by Islay’s somewhat distorted standards, but it’s good, it’s enjoyable. I had a hard day today and drinking this feels fun and comforting. I like the ashy smoke with the cooked black fruit sweetness and the limonene tartness. Anyway, thanks for the review and cheers from the Pacific Northwest of the US.
Was my first Islay and still one of my favourites. Picked up a No.1 as well the other day and have a glass of that deliciousness beside me as I type. I agree with your assessment, it is not very complex but smells and tastes sooo good.
The best Bowmore I have had is the 15 year Laimrig cask strength. Sadly discontinued in 2014 but I did bunker a bottle. The Devil's Cask III was not bad IMO as well especially at $100 CAD. Bunkered one of those as well.
This was my 1st Scotch. It took me a while to get into it but by the time i was half way through the bottle i was enjoying it. Found it good value for the money but it went a bit flat by the end of the bottle.
Hi jon I've just bought a bottle of this. I had a glass of it in a bar over the weekend and I really enjoyed it. It wasn't expensive so I thought why not it will be a decent whisky to have in if I don't want to touch my more expensive bottles.
I am glad you tried it first, and then were able to pick it up. I think you describe it's role well in a home bar. Good, not great, but easy to pour and save the expensive bottles for later!
After several Laphroaig 10's I cracked a quarter cask and this Bowmore 12 yesterday. My new before dinner dram replacing Johnnie Black...simple but tasty. In love with the quarter cask...WOW! Imagine Bowmore @ 96 proof un-chill filtered & natural color. Would be a 92/100 probably.
Haha, with my whisky buddies we have an ongoing joke whenever we come across a whisky that seems to lack complexity..."a touch of Laphroaig would do this wonders!" I wonder what a dram of Bowmore would taste like with a dash of Laphroaig 10 or Quarter Cask! Great review as always Jon!
Nice review Jon. Had a bottle of this last year and found it quite enjoyable but I probably won't buy it again as there's better options out there for the same price but a good introduction to islay style whisky as it's not overly peaty. Looking forward to more Scotch reviews, Cheers.
I've had a sample of this and it didn't impress me. I found it a little too thin and gentle for me but I might get a bottle sometime because I feel I should give it more of a chance. It should be right in my wheelhouse by the way you describe it.
I'd also like to try their 15 and 18...question please: what would you suggest for a beginner trying their first Rye, something very flavorful, balanced .. lot 40 rye or anyting else you recommend?
Canadian Club 100% Rye, 7 year Alberta Distillery juice, fairly tasty. The Wendel Clarke Alumni series, 11 year Rye is very good as well. I assume you are in Canada.
Thanks guys....yes I'm in canada...in BC...trenny and c did a comparative NHL alumni series review...and yes the Wendell Clark had the highest ratings...but sadly not for sale here in BC...I also order from Zyn and Cellar Craft in AB and I don't see it on their websites, either. What of the Bulleit rye?...I can always buy a 375ml size too.
@@choppersplace I really enjoy Bulleit Rye but it is much spicier than Canadian Club 100% Rye, less approchable I would say but if you find that you like Rye, I think you’ll like it!
Just got the peat bug only a year ago after 20 years of non peated. On my 3rd Laphroaig 10 and just can't imagine anything better. Is this less medicinal and more sweet? Wondering if I should try this or Cao Ila next for a variation?
I also prefer un-chill filtered and natural colored. Even cask strength when I can get it. However, I would argue there are some good malts that are filtered, colored and light abv. Sometimes the flavors are still good. Cheers!
agree it works v well with a low sugar ginger ale (thin lemon slice optional) Great summer drink
Awesome!
Hey Neighbour! I agree. Bowmore gets pummelled quite a bit. I actually quite like it and I think it’s a great scotch to introduce people to peat. Definitely a light, gentle smoke. Thanks for the great review!
Glad you can enjoy it too. Certainly easy to get a hold of! Cheers!
Whisky Neighbour I certainly enjoyed my bottle, but don’t know that I would rush out to replace it. Too many other ones to explore! I’m always amazed (jealous) at the price differences between BC and Alberta. Bowmore 12 is $60 before taxes here! I have only ever bought it on sale, but even then, it’s never lower than $55. $40 is a steal for this one imo. At almost $70 after taxes, it’s a much tougher dram to swallow. For that price it should be at least 43% a.b.v.
@@TheWhiskyExplorer yeah. Regular price here $39.95. Not bad at that price IMO.
Finally went for this, it's got a nice finish and the peat is strong but not overpowering. I heard so much negativity before but glad I bought this.
Glad you tried it and can enjoy it. I don't think it turns heads, but I can easily relax with a dram of this. Cheers!
Nice one neighbour. Like the idea of the smoky ginger cocktail, I’ll have to try that cheers
Let me know what you think if you get to it. Take care.
Adding a peaty depth boost to any blend or Speyside cheapie is always a fun game to play. Thanks for sharing, Neighbor Jon!! 🙋
Most welcome! I hope you are enjoying the weekend.
I just opened a bottle of Bowmore 12 and I like it very much! Seems to me like a perfect introduction to Islay/smoky scotch in general. Makes me wanna try some other smoky/peated scotches. Of course, Ardbeg (tasted the TEN once this summer and liked it very much), Lagavulin, Laphroaig are the classics from Islay but some other ones I want to try are Talisker 10, Ledaig 10 and Highland Park 12 for example.
I suggest every scotch you listed is "better". However, I actually enjoy Bowmore and wish a few more people would try it.
@@WhiskyNeighbour yeah, they surely rate higher, but they also are all priced higher than Bowmore 12, so it makes sense. Bowmore seems somewhat underrated and I think it gives a nice tasting experience for the price!
I'm not a huge peat fan, but Bowmore has just the right amount of peat for my liking. Their 15 year old is one my favorites.
I think it's time I tried that bottle again. It has been many years! Thanks for sharing.
A lot of people turn up their noses at coloring and chill filtering, but, unless you can somehow manage to get a sample of the SAME whisky non-chill filtered and uncolored, there is no way to tell if it makes any difference to the taste of the whisky. You'd have to be able to intercept a sample at the distillery before it goes through those processes to know for sure. How many of us are in a position to do that? I'd say that number is pretty close to zero The only thing anyone can say for sure is that the bottling strength does make a difference on taste. The 40% ABV tells you that it's going to be fairly tame and uncomplicated. 43 or 46 would give it some oomph, but I don't begrudge them making a little extra money by extending it.
I certainly don't begrudge anyone making the money they can. When I talk about my tastes, it's only my opinion and my own preference. Also, it only represents where I currently am in this amazing whisky journey. I have found my tastes change over the years too. Thanks for your thoughts!
@@WhiskyNeighbour It wasn't your comment specifically I was referring to. Your mention of the coloring and chill filtering reminded me of others who have spoken with seemingly great authority about how they can taste the chill filtering and the coloring. That sort of attitude strikes me as so much posturing.
@@davidbroughall3782 thanks for clarifying. I am certainly no great authority! Just a guy who enjoys whisky and talking about it with friends. Have a great weekend!
Have you tried the Bowmore 15? Well worth trying.
A few years ago. I would like to again, but it is priced a bit high around here
Nice review. I’m here drinking my first few drams of Bowmore 12 (down to the top of the shoulders now), and while I’m not floored like I was with my first dram of Laphroig, I was kind of getting into the Bowmore. I just watched Ralfy more or less pan it and I thought the review was a bit harsh. I’m much more on board with your review. This not an interesting whiskey, by Islay’s somewhat distorted standards, but it’s good, it’s enjoyable. I had a hard day today and drinking this feels fun and comforting. I like the ashy smoke with the cooked black fruit sweetness and the limonene tartness. Anyway, thanks for the review and cheers from the Pacific Northwest of the US.
Thanks for sharing your experience here. I think you have paced it well, and certainly a dram I can enjoy after a hard day. Cheers!
Been a long time since I moved on from Bowmore 12... It's past time for my afternoon nap!
Enjoy the rest! It's too nice here for a nap. I hope to take an afternoon stroll
Was my first Islay and still one of my favourites. Picked up a No.1 as well the other day and have a glass of that deliciousness beside me as I type. I agree with your assessment, it is not very complex but smells and tastes sooo good.
Glad you enjoy this one too! Cheers 🥃🥃
The best Bowmore I have had is the 15 year Laimrig cask strength. Sadly discontinued in 2014 but I did bunker a bottle. The Devil's Cask III was not bad IMO as well especially at $100 CAD. Bunkered one of those as well.
Maybe one day I will bump into one of those. I have yet to try a Bowmore that really excites me.
This was my 1st Scotch. It took me a while to get into it but by the time i was half way through the bottle i was enjoying it. Found it good value for the money but it went a bit flat by the end of the bottle.
Glad you got a few pours that were enjoyable!
Hi jon I've just bought a bottle of this. I had a glass of it in a bar over the weekend and I really enjoyed it. It wasn't expensive so I thought why not it will be a decent whisky to have in if I don't want to touch my more expensive bottles.
I am glad you tried it first, and then were able to pick it up. I think you describe it's role well in a home bar. Good, not great, but easy to pour and save the expensive bottles for later!
After several Laphroaig 10's I cracked a quarter cask and this Bowmore 12 yesterday. My new before dinner dram replacing Johnnie Black...simple but tasty. In love with the quarter cask...WOW! Imagine Bowmore @ 96 proof un-chill filtered & natural color. Would be a 92/100 probably.
I am with you! Love quarter cask!
young bowmore is not complex. old bowmore is fantastically complex. and old distillations are magical. i had a 1970 once that was a knockout.
I would love to experience old Bowmore. So cool you have had some.
Haha, with my whisky buddies we have an ongoing joke whenever we come across a whisky that seems to lack complexity..."a touch of Laphroaig would do this wonders!" I wonder what a dram of Bowmore would taste like with a dash of Laphroaig 10 or Quarter Cask! Great review as always Jon!
Great comment. A touch of Laphroaig would wake it right up! Cheers.
Bowmore was my father's brand. I've heard good things about the 15!
I enjoyed the 15 many years back. If they have kept the quality up, I would certainly love to try it again.
Smoky soda is great.
Yes, this works well for that IMO!
Nice review Jon. Had a bottle of this last year and found it quite enjoyable but I probably won't buy it again as there's better options out there for the same price but a good introduction to islay style whisky as it's not overly peaty. Looking forward to more Scotch reviews, Cheers.
Thanks Graham. I can't really disagree, except around here it is about $10 less than any other Isay. Cheers!
I've had a sample of this and it didn't impress me. I found it a little too thin and gentle for me but I might get a bottle sometime because I feel I should give it more of a chance. It should be right in my wheelhouse by the way you describe it.
Maybe hold off. It is thin and gentle. It needs better wood to give it a little more caramel. As it is, mostly malt and a bit of smoke/ash.
Whisky Neighbour I might get the 18. It's a reasonable price here in the uk.
I'd also like to try their 15 and 18...question please: what would you suggest for a beginner trying their first Rye, something very flavorful, balanced .. lot 40 rye
or anyting else you recommend?
Canadian Club 100% Rye, 7 year Alberta Distillery juice, fairly tasty. The Wendel Clarke Alumni series, 11 year Rye is very good as well. I assume you are in Canada.
@@peterwhite507 totally agree with Peter. I prefer Lot 40, but CC 100% Rye is more approachable, and still has signature Rye spice.
Thanks guys....yes I'm in canada...in BC...trenny and c did a comparative NHL alumni series review...and yes the Wendell Clark had the highest ratings...but sadly not for sale here in BC...I also order from Zyn and Cellar Craft in AB and I don't see it on their websites, either.
What of the Bulleit rye?...I can always buy a 375ml size too.
@@choppersplace I really enjoy Bulleit Rye but it is much spicier than Canadian Club 100% Rye, less approchable I would say but if you find that you like Rye, I think you’ll like it!
Just got the peat bug only a year ago after 20 years of non peated. On my 3rd Laphroaig 10 and just can't imagine anything better. Is this less medicinal and more sweet? Wondering if I should try this or Cao Ila next for a variation?
If you love Laphroaig, I would go for Cao Ila. This is a little too thin I think.
Daniel - if you like Laphroaig check out Ledaig 10
Bowmore isn’t spectacular if you compare it to other islay’s but it has a unique character that I think should at least be tried by all peat lovers.
Agreed!
40%, chill filtered. Coloured. Pass.
I also prefer un-chill filtered and natural colored. Even cask strength when I can get it. However, I would argue there are some good malts that are filtered, colored and light abv. Sometimes the flavors are still good. Cheers!