I must have been rather enthusiastic about Islay malts in conversations with my work colleagues following my discovery of Bruichladdich because the next Islay product I had the pleasure of sampling was a bottle of Bowmore Legend that they gave me for Christmas a while back. Now this is a workaday drink compared with some of the heavier after dinner malts that I have had since. However, it certainly has its place. I find it ideal for the hip flask when out for a walk on a mizzly day in the Hebrides. The most memorable occasion that I have had it was on just such a mizzly day on Coll last summer, when we went to visit Marie in the house that she was having built. She poured me a shot of Legend into a plastic cup that had been on the unglazed windowsill. It was wonderful sipping the golden liquid through the drops of Scotch dampness that were round the rim of the cup.
In time honoured fashion I have a glass of Legend beside me now. At 40% one has to think that a bit of filtration and colouring has been involved in its production. In the nose I am just finding a hint of peat in amongst what I can only describe as the smell of old wood. To me the taste is of peaty smoke on top of a honey sweetness. This was the first peaty Islay whisky that I tasted. Although the flavour is not as full and complex as some, the smokiness is very distinctive. It is a great introduction to the types of whisky most commonly associated with Islay.
The little Darkest comes in here because my wife picked up a gift set of three Bowmore minitures as a supermarket special offer in the run up to last Christmas. I think the were in my stocking from Father Christmas this year! The label says that it has been sherry casked; it certainly seems that way from the deep nutty brown colour. At 43% I anticipate a fuller flavour than from the legend. Giving it a sniff I detect a warm gentle spirit smell with sweetness and even floral hints. Yes, the taste is fuller than the Legend. Leather and wood predominate along with sweetness, mild peatiness and a slight medicinal quality.
Well I guess I'll just have to settle down and relax with what is left in the glass - such hardship. Before I do though I will have to update on our plans for our forthcoming trip to Islay in June. We have now discovered that the good folk who run the B&B we will be staying at are long lost friends of the family. It looks like we are in for a big reunion as well as enjoying the last couple of days of the Whisky Festival.
Now somewhere I have a picture of Bowmore that I quite like. I wonder if I can work out how to add it to this posting before my brain gets too addled.
