Bowmore Islay 18 Year Old Review

Read below to find out what Scotch & Sounds thinks about this single malt scotch whisky

TASTE.

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whisky glass with ice

Info

Type – Single Malt

Age – 18 Year Old

Location – Islay

Casks – ex-Bourbon

Price – £77.90

Taste Profile

Smokiness – 2.5/5

Fruitiness – 2.5/5

Oakiness – 2/5

Spiciness – 2/5

Boldness – 2/5

S&S Rating

Overall

3/5

Taste – 3/5

Nose – 3.5/5

Value – 2.5/5

Interested in this whisky?

What do we think of this whisky?

It’s nice but it also packs a punch to the wallet as you’d expect from whiskies that have been in the cask for longer. The Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch has been matured for 18 years which means it is not as in your face as the 12 or 15 year old siblings from the distillery, although there is still an element of spice (peppery) which is also found in the younger siblings. With extra years in the cask it also means the peatiness is a little more subdued which will appeal to those not into heavily smoked whiskies. You can definitely find fruity sweet notes to this scotch as well so you get a little bit of everything but no characteristic is overly prominent.

There’s no doubt that this is a good quality whisky but it does feel like there’s something missing. Something to make it more memorable. It’s a good example of where older doesn’t mean better as the 12 year old is a solid option as well. For those looking for all round balance with subtle smokiness, sweetness and a bit of spice, this a strong choice but you may find cheaper alternatives from Islay distilleries.

Should I add ice or water?

This one is really subjective (but all reviews are anyway). It’s easy to drink neat but you may find some more of the fruity notes coming through with a small amount of water or ice.

PAIR.

What music genres pair well with this whisky?

Folk, Rock, Jazz, Blues

What music pairs with this whisky?

Bon Jovi pairs nicely with Bowmore's 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

They’ve been around for while and if you bought tickets, you’d pay a premium, but you’d still go. This is why we’ve paired the legendary Bon Jovi with the Bowmore 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch. If someone bought you a round or a bottle you’re not going to say no. You’ll get a tried and tested performance where you can sing along but nothing overly distinctive as a memory.

ENJOY.

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