To make things interesting, I got myself a Bowmore 10, a whisky I’ve sampled several times, though not particularly for a review. The choice for circling back emanated from a keen interest to ascertain how the Bowmore Aston Martin 10 stands up against the base travel retail bottling from the distillery.

The Bowmore is no stranger to the peat club and has been long-standing, since 1779 and is one of the oldest distillery from the Islays! The 10 is produced from barley that is peated, around the 25-30 ppm mark and matured primarily in a combination of european hogshead and ex-sherry casks for a minimum of 10 years before being bottled at a mundane 40%. Interestingly enough, the labelling is etched with the phrase, “Dark and Intense,” and it will be interesting to see how this rather amateur whisky would fair on both counts.

ABV : 40%

Eye : Tawny | Artificial Colouring | Non Chill Filtered

Nose : Caramel and custard with nuances of char; raisins, red apples and savoury sun dried tomatoes are infused with tropical notes; green pepper, bay leaves with a hint of brine.

Taste : Caramel with an earthy maritime note, interrupted with seaweed and wet tobacco. Honey, dried fruits and sultanas are accompanied by hints of spice and white pepper.

Finish : Medium | Sweetness from the dried fruits, followed by brine and char.

The Bowmore 10 is a bit of an average run of the mill whisky; the nose seemed more pronounced, but everything else was unidirectional and mundane, barring the influence of peat. At AUD $72, it is a steal but not one I would invest in, as their higher aged spirits were so much more flavoursome and memorable.

The 10 doesn’t need any dilution being an easy sipper unless you aren’t used to the peat or the brine. All in all, a whisky that is young, lacking that punch and prowess (aka intensity). I do see this as an Islay whisky that is more palatable to those who wish to dip their toes into the peat pit but not for those who live to dive.

Slainte!