Bowmore Sheriff's 1970

I'm back with my whisky reviews! My recent Kentucky & Tennessee whiskey journey and my visit to Feis Ile 2024 have been overwhelming; I've tasted A LOT of drams, and I must admit I've been remiss in my whisky reviews. But let's get back on track. This is the review of the legendary 1970s BOWMORE SHERIFF's. This spirit, distilled in the 1960s and bottled in the 70s, is a highly sought-after collector's item, featuring a Sheriff's ship on the label. On the nose, it begins with herbal peatiness and grapefruit. It's perfumed, with notes of orange candy, moss, coffee, and caramelized fruits. After the first taste, I detected papaya, pumpkin, and orange jello. The palate is quite intriguing. It starts with a papery note, followed by a new sensation: burning newspaper. Then come ashes and oranges. Subtle salt and humidity. Hay, stable, and moss. Ginger. The aftertaste is dominated by cigarettes, old books, and hay. It's mouthwatering, with that distinct newspaper note reappearing. Salt and light peat are present. Overall, this tasted old. Ancient and vintage, it's interesting but doesn't quite deliver the flavor or aromas one might expect from a bottle that now fetches around $3.5k. Lightly peated and ashy, it offers a glimpse into Bowmore's past. My score is 87 out of 100.