We’ve very fond memories of a 1965 Bowmore and of an earlier 1972 in the same series, so no need to say that we’ve got high expectations here. Colour: gold. Nose: an exceptional start on cappuccino and toasted cake, then gunpowder and grapefruits, then coal smoke and green tea, with a constant waxiness in the background (lemon scented candles.) Notes of wet wool, bitter oranges, ‘new leather’ and earl grey tea (very obvious here). Absolutely typical of these vintages when Bowmore got less exuberantly fruity and rather smokier as well. Beautiful grassiness (uncooked asparagus). Much less wham-bam than the Bowmores from the 1960’s and rather austere in fact, but wonderfully complex. Mouth: starts peatier and smokier globally, maybe just a tad cardboardy at the attack but getting rather cleaner and more in line with the beautiful nose after that. Lemon zests and marmalade, grapefruit, barley sugar, faint hints of violet sweets (very good here), very ripe redcurrants, then pepper, salt… The whole isn’t really big but very complex indeed. Needs time. Finish: medium long, on something like smoked lemons, should that exist. Quite some nutmeg as well and maybe just hints of cardboard again. Comments: one of the best of the vintage, mid-peated. Needs attention and concentration, that is.

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