Bowmore Mashmen’s Selection is a distillery-only release of 1,500 bottles that came from a combination of five 1st fill ex-bourbon barrels that were all distilled on May 3rd 1999 and aged for 14 years. It was bottled at full cask strength and non-chill filtered. The one thing I couldn’t find out is if they used any caramel coloring. I’m going to assume no since it seems like they’re going for a natural delivery here, but you never know. Bowmore loves their e150a.
In Bowmore’s Words: Bowmore Mashmen’s Selection
“On the eye bright honey gold Breathe in ripe mango and orange, creamy honeyed malt, sugary sweetness and ocean brine Sip passion fruit, vanilla cream, and honeycomb with a sea-salt breeze Savor beeswax and nectarines.”
Well that’s their take, so let’s see how it pairs up with mine. On to the Bowmore Mashmen’s Selection review
Bowmore Mashmen’s Selection Info
Region: Islay, Scotland
Distiller: Bowmore
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: 14 Years
ABV: 55.7%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller
Bowmore Mashmen’s Selection Review
EYE
Apple juice
NOSE
Toffee, smoked meat, butterscotch, fruit, coconut oil, vanilla and oak.
PALATE
Smoked hazelnuts, chocolate Necco, Apricots, caramel, vanilla and menthol. A bit of spice comes up before heading into the finish.
FINISH
Long -. Smoked meat, nuts, spice, fruit
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Not bad, but by no means is it an amazing release.
OVERALL
Bowmore Mashmen’s Selection is an ok Bowmore. I had high hopes for this one and even though I revisited it several times over the course of the night I never quite “got it”. Water didn’t do a whole lot to open it up, but after a bit of water and time I did get some of that waxy nature Bowmore talks about.
On the whole it didn’t quite land with me and would peg it on the lower end of the B level. Which, for an OB Bowmore, is decent in my book. I’m not a big fan of OB Bowmore in general and I’d say on the whole they tend to hover around B- for me so for the Bowmore Mashmen’s Selection to hit a B is a bit of an accomplishment.
SCORE: 83-86/100 (B, consumed at a tasting)
