Bad Whisky

[3ch0]

I recently tried a Bowmore 12yr Old, i found the smoke way too overpowering. Almost as if their water source was rainfall down an old chimney. I just couldnt enjoy it at all. Maybe this appeals to some palates but definitely not mine.

[Archer]

i think most people will either love or hate the peated Islay malts. Personally i like the peaty islays including the Bowmore. Out of interest have you tried anything from ardbeg, lagavulin or laphroaig as these are heavily peated.

[3ch0]

Oh yes, i do like Islay malts and i do like smoke. Lagavulin 16 being my choice of dram for something special, i find it has a sweeter smoke on the nose and palate, Laphroaig i have not tried yet but i plan to since it's almost next door to where Lagavulin is distilled and easier to obtain i might add. Bunnahabhain, a wonderful swallow and one of my favorites for all time since it's what got me started in the world of single malts and it's highly underrated which is a shame.
Ardbeg i have had in the past from a friend, i did like it but i could do with purchasing a bottle for myself, refresh my palate so to speak. But the bowmore 12, i just couldnt taste past the smoke, it nullified any kind of complexity i was waiting for. I may be tempted to try Bowmore again but a different year perhaps the 18 since it's highly regarded as one of the finest apparently. But, then again it could be just me, im a smoker and my taste buds have taken a beating over the years.

[Harvey]

I wasnt impressed with the Bowmore 12 at first as you say you couldnt get past the peat smoke, Jim Murray refers to bowmores smokiness as a Fishermans Friend tang and he doesnt mean it as a good thing. I have to say after the bottle had sat a while i went back to it and did appreciate it more. Have you tried the younger no age and cheaper Bowmore Legend i thought this was a better dram than the 12. Wasnt impressed at all with the 18.

[Fergie]

Bowmore is amongst the peatiest Islay has to offer but very different from the what i think of as the big 3 Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig. Bowmores smoke is very much chimney smoke and kippers and doesnt always appeal to even some peat monster whisky lovers. I would say the Bowmore 18 is ok but if looking for something extra special for the same money i would be looking at the Lagavulin 12 cask strength which is part of Diageos Special Releases. I can recommend the lagavulin 12 2009 release.

[5-12-1908]

Strange that some have not liked decent drinks.


I tried Ardbeg and hated it, and promptly put it in the back of the cupboard, forcing a little every now and then. By the end of the bottle I loved it.


Despite drinking a fair few bottles of Glenfiddich Caoran Reserve and loved them....However I had one that was like licking an ashtray! It was vile, I often thought I should have sent it off to the distillery.... I poured a quarter of that bottle down the sink so I wouldnt "force" myself to try it again.


I would say the only one I wouldnt bother getting again is Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban....It just did nothing for me, and was quite bland. But what do I know?

[Acker]

Everyones tastes are different, for example i love Ardbeg and the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban but didnt think much of the Glenfiddich Caoran Reserve.

[Tom W]

I wouldn't say i've ever had a bad whisky but I have certainly been dissapointed:

Ardmore Traditional cask - had an independent bottle of ardmore, loved it so i got this. 46% un chill filterted, the only peated highland malt - all the signs were there! but it never got out of first gear, possibly because of caramel im not sure. It just wasnt quite there.

Royal Lochnagar 12 - lovely history, nice bottle but carameled to the death. I never really appreciated what caramel did to whisky until i did this bottle, was so dissapointing as it brought a robust highland malt to its knees

Macallan 10 - I'm almost embarrased to say that ive only ever had macallan once and it was this year! it was in a restaurant so maybe the bottle had been opened for too long or maybe the food i ate or i drank too much wine but it just didnt work! But Macallan is my target next year, im going to hit it up so it can redeem itself

[SkyeIslay]

Tom, was it the 'traditional' Macallan 10 you tried or the Fine Oak version? As popular as it is, the standard 10 y/o can be a bit of an acquired taste if you're not a big fan of sherried whisky. The Fine Oak was designed to be more approachable to newcomers and to suit a wider range of tastes, but I know some people find it too dry.

For my part, one whisky with a good reputation that I've never personally 'got' is the Aberlour 10. Somehow it never came across as particularly well-balanced for me.

[Tom W]

not sure what macallan it was to be honest but it just seemed very bland. I do need to give macallan a proper taste so i wont be too critical

aberlour 10 is good in my book, in the same league as glen fiddich/ livet 12 - just nice, always on offer in supermarket. Hits all the right notes doesnt try to be anything else

[Harvey]

Tom i agree with what you have said about the Royal Lochnagar 12, i wanted to like it but i just didnt.