The Rockpool 1995 – Wemyss Malts (Bowmore) – Review

We’re back!

Passover is over (Thank goodness), and the malt can flow again. I’ve chosen to get into posting tasting notes mood with the latest offering from indie bottler Wemyss Malts. Their latest batch of single casks features the following casks:

  • “The Rockpool” 1995 single cask from Bowmore Distilery, Islay, Cask Strength
  • “Foraged Fruit Fool” 1991 single cask from Blair Athol Distillery, Highlands
  • “Toffee Tuile” 1999 singe cask from Aberfeldy Distillery, Highlands
  • “Kumquat Cluster” 1993 single cask from Glenrothes Distillery, Speyside
  • “Stem Ginger Preserve” 1995 single cask from Mortlach Distillery, Speyside
  • “Rhubarb Royale” 2001 single cask from Benrinnes Distillery, Speyside

This 1995 Bowmore is a very nice single cask at Cask Strength (yes, I’ve been asking for those from Wemyss for a long time, and this is the 2nd batch offering such a cask strength offering). I’ve heard great stuff about this Bowmore, so let’s try it for ourselves, shall we?

The Rockpool 1995 (bottled 2014) – Wemyss Malts (Bowmore) , 57.2% , £111the-rockpool-1995-bottled-2014-wemyss-malts-bowmore-whisky

Nose: A lovely mélange of mineral, peat and seaweed. Add a wee touch of the perfumed sort of nose you sometimes get from Bowmore – some lavender and hints of Parma violets( but not too much. No FWP here – thank goodness).

Palate: Boom. That’s a big palate over here. With sweet peat , some berries and the mineral notes from the nose. Quite sweet with the lovely heathery peat going on. Fresh baked sweet buns with sprinkled all over. Tasty stuff. Really well rounded.

Finish:  Salt , peat, sweet dough and fragrant heathery hunts of peat and  Parma violets. Toasted oak. Raspberry pie. Delicious.

Bottom line:

This is a brilliant Bowmore my friends. It’s true most recent Bowmores are really cracking, and this one is top notch too. Perfumed , and mineral (but not too much, mind you) , with the right combo of peat, smoke, dough and salt. Complex, Enjoyable, and more-ish. Ace. Too bad they seem to be sold out in most places, so in case you spot a bottle that’s for sale, be very quick…

Score: 90/100

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