Bowmore 12 Year Old

Bowmore Single Islay Malt
12 Years Old
$40

This is the second Islay malt I have tried after finishing my bottle of Laphroaig 10 that I wrote about on this site's first entry. Bowmore is a distillery that dates back to 1779 (so claims the brand's marketing). It is one of the oldest in Scotland, and makes a range of bottlings including the 12 that I am going to taste tonight.

Nose: Smoke and citrus. Orange zest is the most noticeable scent in this aside from the expected peat smoke. The whisky has a light and airy nose, with a definite sea character in addition to this lemony-orange smell.

Palate: Dry, not very sweet. Cool and light rather than warming and dark. The oak characteristics are in the background to the peat and malt flavors on this one, and the citrus element is definitely still there. Finish is where the smoke really comes out, with kind of a chocolatey tobacco aftertaste.

The nose and the taste of this whisky are very much aligned. I don't get any elements in the nose that I don't taste in the whisky. The sweetness of spending 12 years in oak casks is not as pronounced as I might expect, but that gives more weight to the citrusy, smoky flavors in this dram. My friend Andrew's favorite whisky, and the one that got him into... bourbon.

I've been really impressed so far with the different nature of every single dram I've tried so far on my foray into the whisky world. This doesn't have any of the sweetness of Talisker or Highland Park, or the medicinal aftertaste of Laphroaig, or the buttery smoothness of the blends I've tried. I'm really beginning to see why people get so into whisky — every sample gives something a little new with different nuances to appreciate. I really like the light, smoky character of this whisky, and it hits the spot with the warm summer weather we're currently having. I think this is a dram to sit outside with on a warm evening with friends. I plan to put this bottle to that use this weekend.

Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow

Selle Italia
Flite Gel Flow Saddle
$200

Selle Italia is one of the classic saddle manufacturers in cycling. Since 1897, they have been making saddles for bike racers and recreational cyclists alike. The Flite was introduced in 1990, setting a new standard for lightweight saddles worldwide. The saddle has since been found on many manufacturers' bikes since then. Denis Menchov, this year's Giro winner, for instance, rides the current Team Edition Flite from Selle Italia.

The company introduced their Gel Flow technology in 2002, incorporating a central cutout and variable-thickness gel pads into the traditional Flite saddle profile. I have ridden one of these since 2004, and when Selle Italia revamped the Flite in 2008, I replaced my original Gel Flow with the new one, and it is still going strong. The current model is now lighter and more sculpted in shape. The spacing on the supportive part of the saddle is the same, but there is now less excess material around the back and sides.

One minor issue with the seat is that the structure in the central section of the saddle is not as stiff with the cutout. For this reason, I have seen some riders' saddles where the central part has deformed over time, bowing down toward the seatpost and potentially creating an uncomfortable shape to ride on. This only seems to happen over several thousands of miles, however. It's also a problem I have noticed only in the slightest on my own saddle, now 2 years old. Presumably heavier riders, and riders who tend to slide their weight from the back to the middle of the saddle, will eventually experience this problem more.

Personally, I expect my Flite to remain in good shape for years to come. I also recommend it, especially if you have tried less-expensive saddles in the past without finding one that is really comfortable. Made in Italy, with a full-grain real leather cover, the Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow is a comfortable, lightweight and stylish saddle for any road bike.

Talisker 10

Talisker 10 Year Old
Island Single Malt Whisky
$52

I bought this bottle for myself after completing the 30 consecutive days of bike riding that we did back in April. I had a little bit of it at the time but haven't touched it since; time to break it open again and see what my impressions are.

Talisker, dating back to 1830, is the only distillery on the Isle of Skye. The island is the northernmost of the Inner Hebrides and is known for its picturesque scenery and long heritage, which incorporates some of the history of Norse and Gaelic cultures. It is considered a Highland whisky, though it is not distilled on the mainland.

Nose: Peaty with a spicy character not exactly found in Laphroaig or Highland Park. Apple cider vinegar, lemon rind and sea salt. At a distance, bracing mountain air like a crisp autumn morning.

Palate: Real sweetness initially, oaky, brown sugar, with a strong peat kick through the finish. The stronger-than-average % abv is noticeable, but doesn't detract from the whisky's malt character or smoothness.

I bought this whisky after reading innumerable glowing reviews across the Internet. It is quite good. It really manages to be two things: extremely sweet and then very peated and salty. Each subsequent sip I have had just now reinforces that the whisky tastes first sweet, like an old bourbon (almost like rum?) and then, upon swallowing, very peaty and a little bitter, like a Laphroaig without the medicinal characteristic.
It is the most two-toned whisky I have tasted to date. It really doesn't blend the flavors at all, it presents them in succession. Very interesting... but after this one's gone, I plan to keep an Islay on hand for peat. If it is to be a peated night, I'd just as soon commit to it. If I want a malt that blends its sweet and smoky flavors to perfection, I think Highland Park will be the choice... at least so far.