Penny for Your Thoughts - Bowmore 12, Westland Single Malt, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Voyage
The Perez Art Museum -- a reminder of calmer times in Miami
I'm writing this series of posts as Hurricane Irma has led to large-scale evacuations of South Florida. My wife and I are currently safe at her parents' place. While we bunker down and wait out the storm, we're going to review some whiskies!
Bowmore 12 (40% ABV) - Bowmore is the (less famous) cousin of Laphroaig in the same way that Caol Ila is a cousin of Lagavulin. Both Bowmore and Laphroaig are under Beam Suntory ownership, and both share the fairly rare feature of continuing to do their own floor maltings, which form a decent portion of their distillate. Bowmore is on the opposite end of the Islay spectrum from Caol Ila -- unlike that sweeter scotch, Bowmore has an almost acidic nose of peat smoke, vinegar, and hints of Starburst candies. The palate also isn't as sweet as its Islay cousins, with a more metallic and tarter malt flavor, salt, smoke again, and a hint of grain. The low ABV and perhaps lower phenol levels make this a milder scotch than Laphroaig or Ardbeg. The finish is where this dram shines, with a combination of smoke and cocoa powder or hot chocolate that's reminiscent of a more heavily peated Highland Park. Worth trying for $50-55, as an alternative to the other Islay drams. B
Westland American Single Malt (46%) - Westland is a lauded single malt made in Washington state and is one of the leading lights of the American single malt movement. I tend to be quite skeptical of these young, new whiskies, which often haven't had the luxury of aging long enough to develop rich flavors but then get graded on a curve by most reviewers. That being said, this is very promising. After a waft of furniture polish clears out and this dram opens up, apple, sherry, and malt produce a enticing, albeit uncomplicated, nose. Its characteristic flavors are apple and malt, with a little bit of rising heat after a few seconds in the mouth, which is where its youth (two years in the barrel) betrays itself. The finish is where this shines, starting with a brief, young oak note before transitioning to a deep, cherry chocolate cola note. It's one of the best finishes I've had in a whiskey aged 10 years or less, better than many scotches. I'm shocked this is aged in new charred oak barrels, with no sherry involvement. I also love the 46% ABV and dark, rich, caramel color. It's simple, but I'd recommend it, and can only imagine it's going to get better with age. The Kilchoman of the Pacific Northwest. B+
Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea Voyage 9 (45%) - I rolled my eyes at the concept of this bourbon but kept an open mind. This bourbon is aged for 6 years or so then put on ships that sail around the world, purportedly so the exposure to different types of air and the rocking motion of the ship produce interesting effects on this whiskey. In actuality, this is a disappointment. The nose is light and leads with a fair amount of ethanol before transitioning to fruity, sweet, and floral flavors, with some oakiness. The palate is watery, thin, and astringent, with a soapy quality obscuring what seems to be a very sweet, simple syrup palate. The finish all of a sudden manifests a dollop of rye spice and herbs, maybe the most rye-dominant aftertaste I've had in a bourbon. Overall, Jefferson's feels a little young and, at $80, is not a good value. C