Bowmore 18

you know the drill... it's whisk(e)y wednesday again and time for another sniff and scribble of the (imbibable) alcoholic variety.

today's pour is one of the no-brainer go-to daily drams that i keep in my whisky store - a classic, the Bowmore 18. it's a rich and fruity single malt scotch whisky with a moderate alcohol by volume of 43%. compared to my other more smoky loves (which have their time and place for specific cravings), this one is lightly peated and a welcome treat whenever i find myself undecided on what i feel like drinking in the evening.

the sniffs are on a level that deserve to be bottled as a perfume - a wisp of delicate smoke precedes a robust basket of red fruits and berries, intertwined with notes of smooth wood and sweet caramel. it only gets better with time, and turned out to be so pleasant to smell that i kept finding my nose tingling with the alcohol as a result of lingering longer than i should have because of how difficult it was to pull away from the glass.

on the palate, this is a really smooth and sweet whisky that's relatively easy to drink. the first hit on the tongue is almost all smoke, which parts dramatically like theatrical fog to reveal the red fruits and wood beneath. it's beautifully balanced, showcasing a well-blended combination of all its components. closer to the end, the wood becomes more apparent and slightly spicy as we transition into a lovely light yet smoky finish of ash with that underlying well-bodied flavour of red fruit and berries.

following the finish, subsequent sips also develop a bit more nuance with a pinch of salt (literally) amplifying the smokiness, and i'm beginning to get an ever-present (though not unpleasant) bitterness that lingers after the finish, not unlike the experience after finishing a dark chocolate truffle.

overall, i feel that the Bowmore 18 is a really good quality whisky and great value for money for both the beginner and experienced whisky drinker. with its complex nuances on the intricate smell and taste profiles, it's truly a whisky worth taking the time to stop, sip and appreciate.

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this review is of a product that i had purchased at regular price with my own money. i wasn’t asked to review this as a condition of purchase and didn’t receive any incentives for writing this. i’m not affiliated with Bowmore, and as always, all opinions remain my own.

all information correct at time of publishing.