Bowmore Tempest "V" Edition

 

I sometimes wonder about certain whisky books with similar titles to “So Many Whiskies You Must Try Before You Kick the Bucket”, where the reviews sound more like marketing campaigns. For instance, I read two reviews in one of these books, one on the Tempest 1st Edition, the other, the 3rd Edition, which both describe this single malt as an angry untamed beast, as if it was going to jump out the glass and go for your throat.

I however found that with only a few drops of water, that this Bowmore was a thoroughly civilised, elegant and rather sophisticated classic Islay malt which exhibited a mild honeyed seaweed peat and barbeque sweet and sour smokiness.

I can posit several explanations. Perhaps because I am so used to heavily peated whiskies and moreover, cask Strength Peated whiskies, that I find this so tame?

Or perhaps, unlike previous editions, the Fifth Edition has been well and truly broken in and tamed?

https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-shipwreck-by-j-w-turner

Or even perhaps because reviewers are subconsciously taken in by the violent and turbulent sounding name “Tempest”, which conjures up images of ships being smashed to pieces on the rocks, that they apply the same imagery to the whisky by the same name?

Or perhaps because the reviewer is simply copying the marketing blurb put out by the company?

Whatever the reason, I thought this was more like tranquil warm waves lapping upon the seashore of Bowmore harbour on Islay.

Bowmore Distillery by night

Kashrus Certification:

The box and label proudly display the hechsher of the KLBD (London Beth Din) under the authority of Rav Akiva Padwa.

(BTW, I have recently been corresponding with Rav Akiva Padwa Shlit"a on WhatsApp regarding kashrus issues of Single Malt whisky. I found the Rav very knowledgeable on this subject and have enjoyed our exchanges very much).

Packaging

The box is functional and fit for purpose. The artwork is typical Bowmore which hasn't changed since the 1990s and is, in my opinion, looking a bit dated.

Bowmore Tempest V (5th) Edition. 10 Years Old. 55.9% abv. Price 350 Shekels

Non Chill-Filtered.                GOOD!

E150a Colouring added.       BAD!

On the nose, full flavour rich First-Fill Ex-Bourbon cask character with well controlled sweet peat, yellow tropical fruits, fresh floral notes, wet pastry apple pie, hint of yeastiness and maltiness, honey, barley sugar, light wood spices. Quite wonderful aroma and one worth savouring before jumping in and tasting.

On the palette, barbequed juicy yellow tropical fruits (soft nectarines, peaches, apricots, pineapple, mango), soft pastry, malty vanilla biscuits, barley sugar and honey sweets with soft wood spices.

The finish has a medium length to it which leaves sweet and sour barbequed fruits in the mouth.

A really enjoyable dram and something I’d give to a Peat beginner. It kind of reminded me of a less sour lemon and more sweet apple pie expression of Caol Ila.

If you would ask me to think of a hypothetical whisky which has a flavour profile of an Ex-Bourbon, slightly Islay peated whisky, this is exactly what I would expect it to taste like.

Because it is so gentle and easily classified, for me, it’s lacking a bit of exotic personality that a Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Kilchoman, Lagavulin, Bruichladdich or Caol Ila has.

Immediately recognisable as Islay peat, after that It seems almost generic in its flavour and would be difficult to pick out in a blind tasting except by ruling out all the other Islay whiskies, leaving only Bowmore to choose from.

Conclusion:

So, having said some less than flattering things about this, I actually really enjoyed this Tempest, finding it an incredibly well balanced and good natured single malt, packed with classic flavours. Without a doubt it is my favourite Bowmore to date and if I see it on the shelf again I would be tempted to buy another bottle, if only to show others that Islay peated whiskies can be civilised and elegant. Hardly a Tempest and more like a tropical style summer evening outside Bowmore distillery, watching the sun go down over Bowmore.

Bowmore Distillery from Bowmore Harbour