Bowmore Devil’s Casks Batch 3 is different from batches one and two in two main ways. #1 it’s NAS whereas the other two carried a 10 year age statement. #2 it’s aged in Oloroso and PX barrels instead of just the Oloroso barrels. Which is fully explained below.
In Bowmore’s Words: Bowmore Devil’s Casks Batch 3
“Matured in the finest first fill sherry casks, Oloroso and Pedrox Ximenez. Bowmore’s third, and final, release in the sought after Devil’s Casks series is our most intensely satisfying yet. Marrying spirits matured in both dry Oloroso sherry casks and – for the first time – sweet Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, which bring an incredible intensity and remarkable richness.”
NAS always has me a little suspicious, especially when it comes to high priced limited editions. Anyways, full thoughts below in the Bowmore Devil’s Casks Batch 3 review.
Bowmore Devil’s Casks Batch 3 Info
Region: Islay, Scotland
Distiller: Bowmore
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Oloros & ex-PX barrels.
Age: NAS
ABV: 56.7%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Batch: 3
Price: $110
Bowmore Devil’s Casks Batch 3 Review
EYE
Red as Mephisto’s skin
NOSE
Peat, dark honey, vegetal, cloying sweetness and screen printing ink with bits of pine-like herbal, stale brown sugar, earth and dry erase markers. This is not an aroma that I’m keen on experiencing on a regular basis.
PALATE
The palate is a bit better with some dried plums, peat, ink, stale fruit cake and light bits of brown sugar, chalk and citric acid.
FINISH
A long bitter, smoky and inky finish gets accented with some acetone, Strawberry Necco and chalk that fades to a bitter coppery note.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Not well balanced, medium body and an oil meets water texture.
OVERALL
Bowmore Devil’s Casks Batch 3 is worse than Batch 2 and miles way from the amazing Bowmore Devil’s Casks Batch 1 – I wish I had bought more of those when I had the chance; live and learn.
The nose on the Bowmore Devil’s Casks Batch 3 is a bit acrid despite the cloying fruity sweetness. The palate is also a bit overly sweet with a light metallic / mechanical character hanging next to it that sometimes tastes like I bit too hard on a pen and other times tastes like sucking on a penny. This character culminates in the finish with its bitter metallic inky essence. Maybe it’s the casks, maybe it’s the sherry that was in the casks. I don’t know, all I know is that like withe the Batch 2, I’m not a fan.
SCORE: 77/100 (C+)
