Whisky: Bowmore 17 Year (2004), SMWS 3.326 “En garde!”

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 56%

Cask: Refill Bourbon Barrel (14Y), Refill Guyanese Rum Barrel (3Y)

Age: 17 Years (Distilled 16 Feb. 2004)

Nose: Dried berries and burning pine logs in the fireplace, faint sour-tart fruity tang, more herbaceous with time, thistle, malted milk balls, underlying earthy quality.

Palate: Medium-bodied, grab bad of dried berries— raspberry and blackberry especially, slightly sour-tart fruit tang, arboreal and woody with hints of decomposition and mushroom, subtle licorice and peppercorn, hints of burnt wood and bark, subtle chocolate at the end.

Finish: Medium-length and drying with dried fruit, earth, and wood.

Score: 7-8

Mental Image: Forest Frolicking

Narrative & Notes: I sampled this blind as part of a “Holiday Mystery Whisky Advent Calendar” organized by a like-minded group of whisky nerds. I guessed it was a 17-Year Bowmore from 2004, matured, or finished, at least, in an STR cask— boy, was I just off from the bull’s eye! I did have a bit of an advantage; I have had several sibling casks to this mystery malt, and the flavor profile between those 2004 SMWS Bowmore has been remarkably consistent.

I thought this was an absolute treat with loads of tart fruits and arboreal spices over an underlying earthiness. Once I knew it was a rum cask finish, more tropical fruits and rum-driven Esthers appeared. Was it the power of suggestions, or was my mind suddenly better primed to understand and interpret the notes already there? Perhaps a little bit of both.

Overall, delightful.

Image Credit: Whisky Hammer