Bowmore 12 vs Talisker 10: Head to Head!

Discover the differences between Bowmore 12 vs Talisker 10 in this in-depth comparison and decide which Single Malt is better for You!

Bowmore 12

• Nose: Smoke, pineapple, orange.
• Palate: Medium body, ripe fruit, honey, vanilla, iodine.
• Finish: Short, smoke, mineral, charred oak.

Nose hits with a strong smoky note from the peats used to dry the malted barley at first, followed by a hint of pineapple and citrus.

On the palate, Bowmore 12 has a medium body providing a pleasant mouthfeel. On the first sip I get ripe fruit and honey, along vanilla, a touch of iodine typical of Islay Whisky and just a tad of smoke.

The finish is short, with a subtle hint of smoke, a mineral note and charred oak from the bourbon barrels in which it was aged.

This is a good pour for those who want a subtle hint of smoke as this whisky is quite restrained when compared to other Islay releases such as Ardbeg as Bowmore only uses half as much peat to dry the malted barley.

Bowmore 12 lacks proof as it would be immensely better at 90 proof (45% ABV) and the finish is a bit short but a pleasant sip nonetheless, as it does not have any off-putting note and doesn’t feel hot providing a good experience.

I’ve included the Bowmore among the top 12 year single malts you can buy today!

There are a few facts worth knowing about this Scotch:

• Bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV).

• Aged for a dozen years using ex-sherry and ex-bourbon barrels.

• Gold medal at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

• Gold at the International Wine and Spirits Competition 2013.

• Bowmore is one of the few distilleries that continues to hand-turn, malt, and peat its own barley.

• Bowmore was founded in 1779 being the oldest distillery of Islay and the second oldest in Scotland.

Talisker 10

• Nose: Smoke, pear and apple.
• Palate: Smoke, dried fruit, mineral notes, cereal, pepper.
• Finish: Long and pleasantly peppery.

There is a fair amount of smoke on the nose at first, followed by hints of pear, apple and a bit of iodine.

On the palate, the Talisker 10 displays a creamy texture. Flavor offers a moderate hit of smoke at first, that quickly mellows out into rich dried fruit sweetness, with hints of cereal, black pepper and a mineral note.

The finish is long, with a satisfying warming peppery note and mineral finish with a bit of oak spice and caramel.

Adding a dash of water tunes-down the pepper, while releasing sweet notes, making it easier to sip.

Talisker 10 is a creamy and full flavored whisky. This is a peaty whisky but not as heavy as some of the Islay malts as it does not overpowers other flavors.

Talisker strikes a nice balance between smoke, salinity, peppery notes and honey-like sweetness.

Overall, Talisker 10 is not an entry-level single malt but it makes a solid option for true whisky aficionados that like peat in moderate amounts in their drinks.

This is an overly good Scotch and one of the best 10 year old whiskeys!

Learn how it compares to the Lagavulin 8!

There are a few facts worth knowing about this whisky:

• Bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV).

• Aged in ex-bourbon barrels.

• Was rated Best Buy by Wine Enthusiast.

• Awarded with 94 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2013.

• Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013.

• Talisker is an Island Whisky crafted in the Isle of Skye since 1830; founded by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill.

Bowmore 12 vs Talisker 10: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whisky	Price
Bowmore 12	$63
Talisker 10	$75

Bowmore 12 vs Talisker 10: Which is better?

Talisker is richer in smoke without overwhelming

Whiskey	Bowmore 12	Talisker 10
Nose	✅
Body		✅
Palate		✅
Finish		✅
Value	✅	✅

• Bowmore is quite subtle on the smoke making a good choice who just want a tiny hit of it in their dram.

• Talisker 10 is richer without overwhelming sweet flavors. When compared to Lagavulin 8 or Ardbeg the smoke is quite restrained.

• Talisker is a more rewarding dram, IMO, hence its popularity.