Auchentoshan & Bowmore Limited Edition – Whisky Tastings
On Monday evening 6th June, Jim and Nicola got together for an extra special tasting, we were very excited about the two drams we received from our friends at Morrison Bowmore.First up was the Auchentoshan.
Auchentoshan 1975 Limited Edition – Bourbon Matured, 46.9% Alc/vol. 70cl
Last month Auchentoshan released a very special limited edition, matured in North American Oak Casks for 35 years, to make it more special and collectable they only produced 500 bottles.
This bottle is encased within a fabulous black double fronted box and with a price tag of £350.00 it is for the serious Whisky drinker/collector. Like all of Auchentoshan drams this one is also triple-distilled.
This limited edition is part of long line of special vintage releases from the late 1970s which included last year’s 1977 Sherry matured and the 1978 Bourbon Cask.
Auchentoshan Distillery,
Dalmuir,
Clydebank,
Glasgow G81 4SJ
telephone 01389 878561
Owners, Morrison Bowmore Distillers, (Suntory)
Right, lets get down to some serious tasting.
Colour…Shiny yellow gold
Nicola’s tasting
Nose…Quite mild to the nose, some vanilla and a touch of dark rum.
Taste…Sweet oak and I still get some vanilla and a touch of orchard fruits (peaches maybe) and a peppery nip.
Finish…A lingering elegant finish with fabulous complex notes, a delight.
Score…4 Corks
Jim’s tasting
Nose…Brown sugar and honey.
Taste…Sweet spice. malty a little oily and a vibrant dram full of many complex flavours.
Finish…Smooth and a wee tingle remains on the tongue from the touch of spice, does it get better than this.
Score…4 Corks
That was very delightful, we both thought after this smashing tasting we understood how special this dram is and it is certainly not overpriced, remember that when a bottle is opened, there will be one less in the world and the rarer and more exclusive the remaining bottles will become. So wee would recommend if you get a chance to buy one, then you should, it is an exceptional dram and the value of your unopened bottle can only go up.
The second of tonight’s drams is the Bowmore.
The Bowmore 1982 Exclusive Limited Edition – 47.3% Alc/vol. 70cl
This is our second dram of the evening and is the second in their vintage release series. This dram is aged for 29 years in Bowmore’s Number 1 vault, and will be available to buy at the end of June with only 501 bottles being made available and will be on sale for £300.00 but boy oh boy it is so worth it.
This bottle is encased within a wooden box held together by a weathered leather strap and a copper buckle, it also has a signed, numbered certificate from the Distillery Manager, Eddie MacAffer.
This distillery was founded over two centuries ago in 1779, Bowmore is the first recorded distillery on Islay (pronounced ‘eye-la’) and one of the oldest in Scotland. Islay Single Malts are renowned for their peaty smokiness and Bowmore is no exception. Bowmore carefully smoke their malt in a peat-fired kiln, just as their ancestors did over 200 years ago.
Bowmore Distillery,
Shore Street,
Bowmore,
Islay,
Argyll PA43 7GS
telephone 01496 810441
website www.bowmore.com
Owners, Morrison Bowmore Distillers, (Suntory)
This should be a great one, let’s get tasting.
Colour…Pale gold
Nicola’s tasting
Nose… Creamy vanilla and just the slightest hint of peaty/smoke.
Taste… A more gentle peatiness than other Bowmore’s, for me a more enjoyable peat level… a wee bit of ginger spice and lemon drizzle cake.
Finish… Super smooth with a warm gentle mouthful, my best Bowmore so far.
Score…4 Corks
Jim’s tasting
Nose… Lemon fruit cake and ice cream, the gentle peat/smoke is delightful.
Taste…A gentleness of Bowmore peat, rich and smooth with a wee bit of pepper on the edge of the tongue, fruity and oak.
Finish…A fruity full palate with the pepper and the peat doing a good job, a little oranges/lemons, drying, so wonderfully long.
Score…4 Corks
Another fabulous dram, Jim’s favourite was the Bowmore and Nicola’s was the Auchentoshan. Nicola was very surprised by the gentleness of the peat within the Bowmore and is maybe getting a flavour for some of the fabulous Islay drams that Jim loves so much.
To finish we have to give a BIG THANKS to DK Cheung of Margaret London for supplying The Whisky Boys with these two fabulous drams. Margaret London is a creative agency specialising in PR, events, marketing and creative consultancy across visual arts, film, music, fashion and design, and offers broad experience across cultural promotion, from traditional print media campaigns to online marketing.
You may have to shop around to find either of these Whiskies on the high street or online. The Whisky Boys have however put together a collection of Auchentoshan and Bowmore Whiskies you may like to try as an alternative, use the window below:
