Bowmore @TweetTastings

@TweetTastings seem to be coming along at 2 a month at the moment but every now and again there's something just that extra bit special....

@TheWhiskyWire teamed up @Bowmore to reveal their #BowmoreTimeless collection and I was lucky enough to be chosen...

Here's some thoughts from me and some of my friends who took part!

The Bowmore Timeless series is designed to celebrate the distillery’s legacy: for over 240 years Bowmore has been creating whisky on Islay. The new series brings together a balance of smoke, exotic fruit and sea salt, all flavours for which Bowmore whisky is celebrated.

We were each sent the core range 12, 15 and 18 year olds alongside the first two Timeless releases: a 27yo and 31yo.

Let's see what everyone thought!

My thoughts:

Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling and fall as fast thick legs. Initial nose: smoky strawberry jam

Nose: smoky fruit - apples, pears, strawberries. Vanilla custard and lemon peel. Some maritime notes - dried out seaweed and shell fish. Lovely toffee note as the air mixes in.

Palate: smooth fruity arrival, vanilla and orchard fruit first, apples, pears & peaches; then the gentle bonfire smoke arrives and a hint of citrus peel.  Black pepper spice as the liquid disappears.

Finish: short smoky pepper spice, a little nuttiness with orchard fruit and citrus hints. Nice.

Other Tweeter's thoughts:

My thoughts:

Appearance: Dark gold in the glass, swirls cling, take a while to bead up and fall as slow thick legs. Initial nose: smoky dried fruit

Nose: more smoky than the 12yo with with dark berry and dried fruit rather than orchard fruit. Some balsamic vinegar and orange juice notes. There is a hint of vanilla and a stronger citrus nose too.

Palate: creamy arrival - berries and dried fruit from the nose but much drier. Butterscotch and tropical fruit notes, more of the balsamic. A completely different beast to the 12yo - more rounded yet more complex,

Finish: long warming tropical fruit, dry with a smoky chocolate note, nice.

Other Tweeter's thoughts:

My thoughts:

Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, slowly beading up and falling as slow thin legs. Initial nose: BBQ pineapple

Nose: BBQ tropical fruit - pineapple, mango, kiwi, banana (and yes with chocolate drops!). There's also fresh berry notes, brown sugar and a little dunnage warehouse funk!

Palate: WOW - thick burnt toffee arrival, dark chocolate, Orange rind, brown sugar, strawberry jam - them cream and strawberry sweets (?)  It's got musty the dunnage notes of the nose and a smoky maritime nose - burnt seaweed? Lovely!

Finish: long warming 'thick & musty' finish - smoky tropical fruit and strawberry jam

Other Tweeter's thoughts:

My thoughts:

Appearance: dark gold in the glass, swirls cling, take an age to bead up eventually falling as slow thick legs. Initial nose; maple syrup on burnt toast

Nose: Maple syrup, dark chocolate, rich strawberry jam, burnt toast. Musty dunnage warehouse funk - black fruit notes - dates, prunes, cherries.  There's a little sea spray and bonfire smoke. The Bowmore citrus is here again too!

Palate: this is a huge step up from the previous drams, thick, oily, mouth coating - huge smoky sherry notes - dunnage warehouse - brown sugar - thick strawberry jam. But there's more - brown sugar, maple syrup, dates, raisins, coffee, marzipan - YUMMY!

Finish: Long 'thick' sherry notes, a little peppery spice, some citrus peel and smoky maritime notes,
YUMMY!.

Other Tweeter's thoughts:

My thoughts:

Appearance: mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a hairline crack, slowly bead up and fall as slow thin legs. Initial nose: smoky tropical citrus

Nose: more of a maritime influence than the previous 4, the dunnage funk has gone and we're more into vanilla custard and lemon drizzle cake. Stewed orchard fruit - pears, apples and a little spoonful of honey.

Palate: oily arrival, maritime salt and Parma violets. Very floral, minerally - very un-Bowmore really - some tropical fruit, lemon sherbets and a little ginger spice. Very different!

Finish: a little short, fruity, herbal and sweet. Param violets are back!

Other Tweeter's thoughts:

A great set of drams!