This one wasn’t reduced with water, the 40% being ‘natural’ and was still distilled using direct firing. Colour: dark gold. Nose: pretty different but we’re in the same family. Fresher and fruitier than the Black at first nosing but less complex. More on crystallised oranges, with hints of marzipan and a bigger ‘coastality’ (sea breeze). Also something slightly milky and mashy, which could be a bit bizarre in such an old malt. We suddenly get huge notes of freshly opened coconuts and it then definitely stays on that, with just a little more mint adding even more freshness to the whole. Not as entertaining and complex as the Black but still very, very nice. Bowmore 1957 Mouth: more body and more freshness than in the BB this time, with a big fruitiness (oranges, passion fruits, mangos) and a little coffee and caramel. Little peat and little ‘coastality’, that is. Picks up steam with time, getting more and more on fruit eaux-de-vie (plums). Maybe not an immense old Bowmore but it’s good. Finish: rather long, on oranges and spices (pepper). Very good but there are more demonstrative old Bowmores, including the official 38yo 1957.

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