SMWS 3.299 Sweet smoke on the water

SMWS 3.299 Sweet smoke on the water, 20 YO, 54.2 %

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) released three special whiskies for the Islay whisky festival, the Feis Ile, this year. I have previously looked at the Laphroaig release (SMWS 29.211) here. Today I have a closer look at the Bowmore release, the SMWS 3.299 Sweet smoke on the water.

This whisky was distilled on 1996-03-27. It was matured for the first 20 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, then finished for a few months in a 2nd fill French oak hogshead. It was bottled in 2017, with a total outturn of 252 bottles, and it sold at GBP 130.

With the pretty image on the label there is no room for the usual, fun and on target tasting notes we normnally see on SMWS bottles. The brief description on the website is as follows:

"From the Society’s Peated flavour profile, it delivers notes of “smoked duck and ribs with sticky glaze”."

Nose: We're having a barbecue on the harbour. Yay! This is a very salty and maritime dram. There is seafood en masse - in fact my seafood allergy almost kicks in!

Taste: Zephyrlike, mellow and rich. I find sweet ashes, honey and light fruity notes. It is very spicy! Lots of pepper and chili. barbecue notes here as well.

Finish: Long finish, with spices all the way. Strawberry ice-cream towards the end.

Comments: A lovely Bowmore! No perfume, and hardly floral at all. Just the way I like it!

Score (88/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas