New Release: Bowmore 1995-2014 Official Hand-Filled #1572

The hand-filled sherries are indeed carefully selected. Bowmore BOWMORE 1995-2014 OB HAND-FILLED #1572 49.4% 1st fill Oloroso sherry butt The aroma is strong with sherry, peat, smoke, katsuobushi dashi, tide, berry jam, grapes with skins, bitter chocolate, balsamic vinegar, good woodiness. Upon drinking, it expands from a smooth mouthfeel with the thick sweetness of berry jam, juicy sensation, moderate woodiness and tannic astringency that deepen the flavor. The umami of seafood dashi, strong peat and tar, oil clinging to the mouth, and a long finish. [Good/Very Good] Hand-filled from casks at the Bowmore distillery. This bottling comes from an Oloroso sherry butt filled in 1995. So far, I have only tasted Bowmore hand-filled sherries, but it seems there are also non-sherry varieties. The aroma is assertive with strong sherry and peat notes. It has the jammy and grapey characteristics typical of sherry casks, along with diverse aromas like chocolate and balsamic vinegar, as well as the seafood dashi nuances typical of Islay. Upon tasting, it is surprisingly smooth with a broad flavor profile. The aroma's rich fruits and sweetness are present, while the tannic astringency from strong cask influence deepens the flavor. The peat is strong, with rich umami components and a powerful, long finish. Recent original sherry casks from Macallan or Suntory often have a raw woodiness that can be concerning, but this one has an excellent sherry character without those issues. The cask specifications are very intriguing. Compared to recent releases, it feels like a more concentrated version of the Devils' Cask with added intensity and boldness. The collaboration between peat and sherry is appealing, and I found it quite delicious. This combination might become even more cohesive and flavorful with a bit more time. However, such non-chill-filtered bottles make it unclear how the bottle aging will progress. #Bowmore (BOWMORE)