A third in and yesterday I climbed to the fourth spot. I have no illusion of keeping this up, but so far I’m on quite a streak compared to other years. I actually managed to get points every day so far!

Today’s dram is rather dark in color so I expect it to be vastly different than the rather not-so-good Lochside that was yesterday’s. I did not like that one at all.

Sniff:
Massive sherry, the bitter kind. Lots of oak too, this smells very familiar. Yet, I don’t have a clue. There is some stewed fruit in there, pears, and maybe also some dried dates. Quite sweet and quite bitter. Behind it all is a thick layer of peat. Quite earthy with fried mushrooms and autumn leaves.

Sip:
The palate isn’t overly sharp but there is some alcohol to it. The peat is prominent, but I’m not sure if I’m getting salty notes. Quite barbecue-y too, with nuts, mushrooms, that autumnal stuff I sniffed out. I’m doubting between port and sherry. And it just might be a dram I did earlier in that Port & Peat bottle-share. The BenRiach or the Longrow. There is some fruit, and I think I am getting the salty notes now. Dried red fruits, with some hazelnut.

Swallow:
Quite smoky at first, and the smoke even dissipates before the alcohol does. What remains is a bit of sea salt chocolate with a touch of nuttiness.

A second sip later I might be persuaded to go for a more Islay approach. It’s a delicious dram, let’s get that out of the way as well. Heavily influenced by the cask but not in a way that it is overpowering.

To go for specifics. After considering Longrow Red for a spell, I am going back to sherry after all. The salinity and fierceness don’t match with the Longrow and more with the Kilchoman from Abbey Whisky I recently had the joy of tasting. So that’s that…

It turned out to be the Bowmore Devil’s Casks II. Which I tasted and investigated before twice. The only excuse I can come up with is that the Kilchoman was tasted in the same period. Anyway, still absolutely love this dram. I wish I had gotten the three bottles Ewald used for this competition.

Bowmore Devil’s Casks II, 10yo, 56.3%. Long gone by now. Expect to pay heaps in auctions.