This year Bowmore have released two expressions for sale on Feis Ile. The first is a 1989 vintage, and was very expensive (350 quid), while the second one (the one we’re about to review here) is younger, and bottled at Cask strength from ex-bourbon barrels. I was quite keen on trying it, being a fan of the Bowmore Tempests (batch 5 is out now, and a review is due next week on the blog – watch this space).
Bowmore Feis Ile 2014, 56,1% abv , ex-bourbon casks
Nose: This is indeed heavily influenced by the ex bourbon. Lots of vanilla and sweet notes on initial sniff. But some fruit also are quite noticeable too. Mainly red fruit. Raspberries and a touch of red cherry. In addition there’s a biscuit-y , caramely note with butter and a faint see breeze as week as fragrant flower petals. Jasmine?
Palate: mmm. Toasted oak. Berries , lots of sea breeze in here. And a bitter note too of dark chocolate and crushed coffee beans. Not as sweet as the nose might lead you to think.
Finish : Smoky and bitter with burnt sugar, dark chocolate with a raspberry filling.
It’s a fine dram. Fruit and sea breeze make it quite interesting. A bit too bitter towards the end.
A tasty dram, quite complex, and rather affordable compared to the other FE editions. I quite liked it, although it’s not something totally different. A good purchase for that price, no doubt. Bowmore is releasing some good stuff recently, and this is no exception.