Whisky Focus - Bowmore Black Rock

Bowmore launch the rich sherried Black Rock at the heart of their new travel retail exclusive range.

Replacing the Bowmore Enigma at the heart of the new Bowmore travel retail exclusive range the new Bowmore Black Rock was matured predominately in first fill ex-Spanish sherry casks an bottled at 40% ABV.

It is presented in a 1 litre bottle with an RRP of £45 which is good to see as many of the 1 litre bottlings are disappearing from the shelves of the travel retail and duty free whisky shops.

Like the other bottlings in the new Bowmore travel retail exclusive range, its name was inspired by Bowmore's extraordinary island home off the west coast of Scotland, the island of Islay. The Bowmore Black Rock takes its name from the jaggy outcrop that’s clearly visible in the bay across from the distillery, which has stood on the shores of Loch Indaal since 1779.

William Morrison's Tasting Notes:

Nose:  Subtle sweet Bowmore peat smoke, mild burnt raisins, cigar box.

Taste: Rich sherried sweetness balances well with a touch of bitter dark chocolate, burnt raisins and sultanas, some toffee and a touch of white pepper, cinnamon and dry ginger all coated in a mild Bowmore smoke.

Finish: Longish. Burnt raisins and slightly tangy orange fades leaving a mildly drying mild Bowmore sea salt peatiness.

Comment: Another example that Bowmore does well in sherry casks, this replaces the Enigma and is very much a younger version of the Enigma. I do enjoy Bowmore's quite unique peat smoke and I know many others do also. I have gotten through a few bottles of the Enigma over the years and although I wouldn't rate the new Bowmore Black Rock quite as highly as the older Enigma (although it isn't far away) I would be more than happy to pick up a bottle from the airport, with an RRP of £45 for a 1 litre bottle which I think is not too bad a price for a peaty sherried Islay whisky in today's marketplace.

SMW Score 83/100

Bowmore Black Rock Scotch Malt Whisky Forum Tasting

I also asked a number of knowledgeable whisky drinking members of the Scotch Malt Whisky Forum to sample and submit their review of the new whisky.

To see what the Scotch Malt Whisky forum members thought of the new whisky, see here: Bowmore Black Rock Scotch Malt Whisky Forum Tasting
 

The Bowmore Black Rock joins the newly released Bowmore Gold Reef and also the repackaged Bowmore 17 which is now known as the Bowmore White Sands 17 Year Old the three whiskies join the existing Bowmore Spring Tide which was launched in 2012 and sits at the top of the Bowmore travel retail exclusive range.
 

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