3.361 It'S Fruit Jim But ...

Bowmore 13 Year Old 2012, Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 3.361 It's Fruit Jim, But Not As We Know It, is a single cask single malt Scotch from the Bowmore distillery in the Islay region (SMWS distillery code 3). Distilled on 14 February 2012, it was matured for 13 years for nine years in an ex-bourbon hogshead and then in a first-fill American oak oloroso hogshead and bottled at a natural cask strength of 52.5% ABV, with an outturn of just 228 bottles. The Society places it in its Lightly peated flavour profile, and its Tasting Panel describes an oily, textural and coastal dram full of strange, exotic fruit. Like every SMWS bottling it is presented at cask strength without chill filtration, and the label carries the Society's cask code rather than the distillery name.

Nose: Olive oil over grilled sardines, green barley, freshly milled oats and a tangy herbal edge with unlit cigars and cedar; water adds art-shop glue, rhubarb, monstera fruit, cough syrup, camphor and menthol

Palate: Magnificently textural: grassy olive oil, first-aid kit, fresh sea breeze and dried mango; water adds fresh linen, white peat, dried apricot and a heap of unusual fruit

Serve: Neat first, then with a few drops of water to open it up; at full cask strength it rewards patience.