whisky review 151 - Bowmore Tempest 10yo (1st Batch)

[emilskilis]

I'm baffled as to why whisky producers would put caramel in their cask strength whiskies (if we disregard the possibility that they're trying to hide something). I doubt that people who know nothing (or next to nothing) about whisky would be willing to take the risk and buy a whisky bottled at 50+ percent. Those who do, on the other hand, seldom approve of caramel in their whisky.

[christophermolloy]

If you're partial to a 12-year old bottling of west-coast Islay malts, then why not review the Bowmore 12-year old? It is very budget friendly, and a great representation of this style IMO; it's also one of my favorites. All the best.

[ralfystuff]

@foreveracowgurl86

E150a is brown dye to make a whisky look better ! It does not help the flavour, German's care about this, Britain does not unfortunately.

[splice42]

Ralfy, if you have the opportunity and can find a bottle around, I'd be interested to hear what you think of the Bowmore Laimrig (15yo with the last 5 years spent in sherry casks). I found it quite nice, and I do believe it's natural colour, un-chillfiltered and at cask strength. I generally go for the sherried scotches and was a bit iffy on an Islay (never really loved them), but this bottle just fits for me.

[ralfystuff]

@splice42

I will look out for this one !

[iGamerMGMR]

@ralfystuff Hello from Canada, I am also interested in your take on the Bowmore Laimrig. The first batch was limited to 4500 bottles and had a strength of 50.3%, I have a bottle of the second batch of which 15000 bottles were made, it is Non Chill Filtered, Natural Cask Strength of 54.4% & I believe has no colour added.15 Years old with the last 5 years spent in sherry casks. Serge Valentin gave the first batch a score of 90. Might be difficult for you to get your hands on a bottle Ralfy.

[ralfystuff]

@iGamerMGMR

I will look out for this one.

[Polyfusia]

I take it you're not a fan of Bowmore 12 year old. Bowmore is certainly overhyped and deserves a reputation as a "tourist whisky". I have never tried any of their offerings. Here in Canada a bottle of Ardbeg 10 year old is $100 a bottle, Laphroaig 10 year old is $80 and Lagavulin 12 year old is $115. Our dollar is worth about the same if not more than the US dollar normally, for a point of reference. Bowmore 12 year old is on sale for $45 this week, and I'm going to buy a bottle. Fingers crossed

[peakCRACKERS]

Bowmore 12 yo was like johny walker red with a silk hat . 100% gross. Just horable!

iodine with a hint of burnt paint.

[swingray62]

Just finished the Bowmore 12y ((40pct) not the Enigma). Must say it`s one of my favourites now. Love the kind of chocolate/toffee sweetness going into light smoke/peat.

Same way of tasting as the Bruichladdich Waves, first fruity then going into a nice smoke/peat taste.

Personally I like these kind of whisky`s above the Ardberg or Laphroaig`s.

Thanks for the review!

[mtpylkka11]

If I have to choose between Bowmore and apple juice, I choose Bowmore ;)

[khatarin]

The Tempest is a great malt, no doubt! But I have to say, that the Batch #2 that I bought from TWE may even tickle my senses even more than the Batch #1 that I bought here in Finland. A bit more smokey, but still the fruity tones of the first batch. Great stuff either way!

[Timvanhelsdingen]

Hey there Ralphy! I've got a question. I got a friend a bowmore giftpack for his birthday last week, en he decided we should taste it together. In it were the 12, 15 and 18 year old. Was nice tasting. But I got a little question. The 12 year old had a lot of peat and smoke on the nose, which was much more subtle in the 15 and 18yo. Any idea what causes this? Does being in the cask for longer pull out some of the peat/smoke smell? I wonder...

[ralfystuff]

@Timvanhelsdingen

Usually (though not always) the peat-intensity of new made spirit steadily becomes less intense over time in cask maturation as the phenol chemical group responsible for peat-flavour break down chemically and get supressed by the flavour compounds provided by the maturation cask till eventually there is very little peat-intensity at all.

[vigil12348]

Loved the Bowmore 12 yo! The peat and smoke are very subtle, perceptible in the beginning, then move away gently introducing the sweet sultana and smoked fig. Then some distant peat in the finish, but gentle, well balanced with raisin chocolate and a remote hint of honey. Not sure, but I think it's sherry matured. It's not up there with Caol Ila and Ardbeg, but I definately prefer it to the standart Laphroaig. And in Bulgaria it's 21 pounds which is not expensive, compared to the other Islay's.

[ralfystuff]

@vigil12348

some good observations.

[vigil12348]

@ralfystuff

I learn from the master...

[TheAnonymousrogue]

wow Ralfy! I love your reviews man but you broke my heart!!! I have a bottle of Bowmore I have almost finished off (couple of drams left) and I love it! I agree it is quite overpowering as you have said, but OH WELL TO EACH HIS OWN!

[mijnnaamisaaron]

Hey Ralfy, quick question that you maybe know - I was looking into the first batch release of the Tempest, and everywhere i read on the web about the number of bottlings i find it's eighter 2,000 or 12,000. That's a big difference, do you have any idea which is right or wrong?

[ralfystuff]

@mijnnaamisaaron

don't know ! .... but more like 12,000 !

[ShaolinTiger]

@mijnnaamisaaron It's 2000 cases, not 2000 bottles :)

[mijnnaamisaaron]

@ShaolinTiger ..and each case has 6 bottles?

[ShaolinTiger]

@mijnnaamisaaron yup that's right, so you were kinda correct with the figures, it's 12,000 bottles (2000 cases). Just got hold of a bottle - best whisky around the price at the moment I reckon.

[iant88888888]

Ralfy, you seem to have quite a lot against Bowmores. I had a bottle of Talisker 10yo recently and it was like a slightly stronger version of Bowmore Surf i bought duty free. I enjoyed it. Maybe they have changed their evil ways?

[ralfystuff]

@iant88888888

not so much against Bowmore....

... more against poor quality Malt, whichever Distillery it comes from.

[manchewl]

@ralfystuff i plan to buy a btl of bowmore surf but i wonder if it's good...can u help me out on this??

[ralfystuff]

@manchewl

... I would not buy it !

[manchewl]

@ralfystuff thx!! really appreciate it

[C5Rigzz]

Ralfy, at about 2:55 you started discussing the Bowmore behind the scenes of McClelland's bottlings.

I'm sorry but I couldn't discern the Bowmore types you were discussing for each of the sibling McClelland lines. My cognizance of Scottish names is very limited.

Could you please list what Bowmores are to be found in the McClelland Islay, Highland, Lowland and Speysides?

Thank you so much!

[ralfystuff]

@C5Rigzz

In my opinion the McLellends Islay is predominantly young Bowmore.

check out a google search for this name and see the general feed-back.

[miketatt2]

Hi Ralf..just checked your vid for the Tempest.When you said about finding an off note when you first tried it i had to laugh....exactly what i found too,i thought it was me. It took a good week or so before i guess enough air got into the bottle,and then i couldn´t get enough of it.A punchy dram! I had that with an Ardmore last year too.Just gotta let those babies breath sometimes. Keep up the good work..Incidently,what about your job now you´ve moved?

[trumpet90909]

Ralfy, I watch all your reviews, fantastic review mate! One thing: What is 150a caramel? And we don't want it?

[ralfystuff]

@trumpet90909

wikipedia + E150a = answer !

It's artificial colourant

[Tantrum777]

Great review! I have to say I bought BowMore legend I did not like it either I have not bought it since.

[sibermonk]

That's a big old dollop of water there!

[ralfystuff]

@sibermonk

and that glass has 55.3% vol: 'nippy' young whisky in it !

[mijnnaamisaaron]

Interesting review Ralf.

My first SM experience was a Bowmore 12 Enigma, which i pretty much enjoyed (your milage may vary). Definitely will try this one

[Hellishcrusade]

You look much better wi'out the face-pubes Ralfy.

Bet the missus prefers it too ...know what I mean? (ahem)

[anorak1977]

@Hellishcrusade dude, that comment is just rude and misplaced.

[Hellishcrusade]

@anorak1977 - Shut it. There's nowt wrong wi' a bit o'working-class humour.

[TheSpankymonkey]

Your eyesite is crap ralfy. I need to drink two bottles of whisky to get like that.

[masterlech]

agree about Legend. But a good expression of Bowmore is mighty stuff, worth the price I'd say. You mention the difference between 10 and 12. Well it's remarkable how the 17 differs to the 15. The extra two years bring so much more complexity. The first bottle I ever had of Bowmore really was the fisherman's hankie but I've had since some very rewarding bottles where the maritime has sung in balance with other notes, like toffee, sweet shops, coffee, citrus, tropical notes and on and on.

[apnarcise]

I agree that the older bowmores are pricey..nevertheless...the taste..tell me...i like islay whiskys...

[zomgz932]

@RachelFuryRocks

ah i dont know how it works with the MLCC since i havent had the chance to have want for malts unavailable.

[shuboy05]

Any whisk(e)y that is bottled at 46% and above will never be chill-filtered. From what I've read online at 46% and above there is enough alcohol molecules to hold in all those flavor molecules that cause that hazing. However the distillers still add caramel to cask strength whiskys according to a list that's floating around the forums.

[jjjj2012]

I do enjoy the mclellands islay (bowmore 5yr) You can tell it's young and not the best but for the price ( about half as much as most islays) I get to buy and have an islay malt taste instead of having to grab a bourbon which I don't like.

[zomgz932]

@RachelFuryRocks your also a Canuck? if so i know what you mean. apparently they dont allow non licenced personnel to ship alcohol across PROVINCE borders. never mind country.

[zomgz932]

so you say get the mcClellands bottling. its 28cad here which is a bout what it costs for a bottle of rye so its cheap.

ill give it a shot.

i'd also like to see a mcClellands review sometime. for comparisons sake.,

[YoungPulteney]

Great review. Thanks a lot. I really enjoy the new location and the new look. :-) You've got that undescribable magic in your clips that reminds me on enjoying life. This is great. :)

[ralfystuff]

@YoungPulteney

awww ! thanks dude ! ... I put the indescribable magic down to the regular tippling of whiskies.

[w0033944]

You and me both, Ralf - Legend was the first peated whisky I tried and it was like drinking neat TCP.