Bowmore 1994 23 Year (Adelphi)

At The Oak Barrel in Sydney on June 26th, 2019, we tasted whisky #6 from Bowmore. The nose was rich, buttery, and very fruity. It had some subtle sherry and a hint of smoke in the background. There were also citrus/brine notes, part of the Bowmore signature, but they were very understated and mostly apparent on the dry glass. The palate offered a spicy, sweet, fruity, and smoky arrival. It was very full and complex with considerable depth. Flavors unfolded in layers as it developed, intense yet subtly interacting. A light briny note, restrained like on the nose, was present, and the texture felt full and rounded. The finish was medium to long, with brine, subtle smoke, and sherry fading into a mouth-watering sweetness and a slightly ashy aftertaste. Distilled in 1994 and bottled in 2018, this tasting sample came from cask #555, yielding 521 bottles. Given the bottling size and color, it was likely a refill oloroso sherry butt. This was a highly enjoyable whisky, displaying a more open and clean character than any official Bowmore I've experienced. It wasn't as reserved as I anticipated, presenting a generous nose and palate when neat, though it has a relatively low ABV for a cask strength bottling. Adding water unleashed an abundance of fruit, particularly on the palate, transforming the modest salty presence into a crisp, thin sweetness. It was delightful either neat or diluted. Overall, I found it superior to the official 18-year-old expression and it certainly offered an interesting variation on the distillery's profile. Why doesn't Bowmore produce whisky like this themselves? However, the price is rather steep, more than I believe is warranted. "Very Good": 87/100 (4.25 stars)