
December 28, 2023

The New Time Warp Sessions, today Bowmore 36/66 vs. 18/67

Bowmore

Inside No1 Vaults in 2015 (Marcel van Gils)

We find ourselves a bit shaken between Christmas and New Year's – and between us, we drank too much wine over Christmas - but we still manage to have some nice tastings, like this pair of Bowmore distilled in the 1960s, a flagship period for the distillery. Although it's not absolutely impossible that in twenty years, we'll declare the flagship period of Bowmore to be the 2020s. And why not? In any case, we're going to taste the lighter whisky first, although it's also the oldest, then an older bottling.

Bowmore 36 yo 1966/2002 (40.2%, Jack Wiebers Whisky World, Old Train Line, cask #3309, 144 bottles)

A quite legendary series by Jack Wiebers who has always loved all types of transport, especially trains and boats. In my opinion, these old Bowmores held their light alcohol degrees well, due to their aromatic richness and texture, so no fear because of this low degree. Colour: gold. Nose: and here is this incredible profile that suggests a little demon decided to mix mango and clementine juices with heavy fuel and seawater. This nose is not at all tired, on the contrary, it reminds us of the best Bowmores of the 1960s that were bottled nearly thirty years ago (my God, already). Of course, that cannot be the case, but one could almost imagine that this barrel was transferred into demi-johns at a certain point, in the manner of some great cognacs. This nose is sumptuous, that's all. Oh, and those juicy peaches! Mouth: not the slightest trace of tiredness, a very fine woodiness, and our much-anticipated slightly salty and tarry exotic fruits. The mangos of course, but also the bananas, indeed the clementines, and passion fruits, papayas... Then seawater and shellfish, while the whole becomes more and more maritime and, consequently, less tropical. But it remains masterful and of great finesse all along, while the sensation in the mouth is very imposing for a whisky offered at just over the minimum official requirement of 40% vol. Finish: even the finish is rather long, extremely Bowmore-like, with a bit of tar this time, a very marked salinity, and fruit peels afterwards. Some ashes and bitter almonds in the aftertaste. Comments: it's a style that has remained inimitable and enthusiasts still wonder, nearly sixty years later, where all these sublime exotic fruits came from. Like at Laphroaig, although the 'fruit mix' was different there in the south.
SGP:653 - 93 points.

Bowmore 1967 (43%, OB, sherry casks, Auxil Import France, +/-1985)

So, roughly an 18-year-old. Typically, these malts were offered in three versions, at 43%, 50%, and sometimes 57% vol. We had tasted the 50% version for Christmas last year and were astounded, as the whisky had been complex and majestic – probably one of the best in the world. But let's not be mistaken, the original juice was so profound that the versions set at lighter degrees, like this one, were not necessarily more fragile or less stunning, they were simply rather intended for enthusiasts generally frightened by high degrees. Times have indeed changed... Colour: gold. Nose: it seems to confirm that the most mythical vintages were indeed those from 1964 to 1967, with of course some majestic exceptions before and after this short period. Nonetheless, this impression of a fruit juice cocktail raised by the seaside is simply irresistible. From mangos to prickly pears, through clementines, blood oranges, papayas, and guavas (in moderation), here is the journey of this sumptuous bouquet that elevates your soul and soothes your mind. Or maybe it's the other way around. Some aspects also remind us of old Bushmills malts. A few touches of eucalyptus and old chartreuse and Bénédictine complete this olfactory work of art. Mouth: taut, rather herbal and marked by blue-green teas at first, then fruitier, but with a perfect balance that goes through pink pepper, candied lemon, borage, and then those very Bowmore-like exotic fruits which it becomes pointless to list once again. Finish: of medium length and sprinkling quality fruity tisanes, eglantine, a bit of green earl grey, jasmine, peach leaf, and finally airplane mango that makes a majestic return on the retro-olfaction. Comment: there is hardly any peat smoke left in these wonderful Bowmores, but their aromatic footprint remains, so to speak. As we said, these old Bowmores, indeed like the Laphroaigs from the same periods, will always keep the peat of their youth in memory. In any case, this old OB is incredibly close to the tireless 'Jack Wiebers'.
SGP:752 - 94 points.

(With thanks to the Auld Alliance, Tim, Hun and the Golden Promise)

Check the index of all Bowmore we've tasted so far