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Bowmore Distillery
Bowmore distillery stands on the shores of Lochindaal, directly across from Bruichladdich. The distillery was officially licensed in 1816 but whisky was being produced as early as 1779, making it the oldest distillery on the island and one of the oldest in all of Scotland.
Like so many distilleries, Bowmore has seen owners come and go through the years. Perhaps its most successful period came under the watchful eye of Stanley P. Morrison, a whisky broker from Glasgow who purchased the distillery in 1963. The Stanley P. Morrison company, later renamed ‘Morrison Bowmore‘, was acquired by Japanese shareholder Suntory in 1994, but bottlings from the 1960’s remain among the most collectable and sought-after on the secondary market, a testament to the perceived quality being produced at the time.
Recent modernisation of the distillery led to the ground-breaking development of a heat recovery system which collects and stores excess hot water and then transfers it to the MacTaggart Leisure Centre, a public swimming pool developed in 1991 inside an old, disused warehouse.
A high percentage of the Bowmore spirit is matured in sherry casks and this 10 year old ‘Dark and Intense’ travel retail exclusive features a marriage of ‘Spanish Oak Sherry Casks and Hogsheads‘. Bottled at 40% alcohol by volume, it retails at around £40 for a litre bottle.
The Whisky
Smell: Strong Sherry influence at first with Raisins & Sultanas, Orange and Dark Chocolate though this fades over time and Vanilla and Malt appear with an undercurrent of Perfumed Peat Smoke.
Taste: Sherry again, though less prominent than on the nose, Cinnamon, Orange, Salted Caramel, Subtle Smoke, Honey and Lemon.
Thoughts: Travel retail expressions that carry an age statement are something of a rare beast these days, so this is a pleasant change to see Bowmore offer up a 10 year old. All things considered the 12 year old is the more balanced dram and offers the better purchase but if, like me, you know the Bowmore range fairly well, the 10 year old give an affordable alternative. The sherry influence is strong at first but perhaps a little superficial as it quickly fades, leaving behind a dram that is enjoyable, if perhaps a little way off the best this distillery can produce.
If the whisky featured in this review has caught your eye, you can buy it from Master of Malt here. Please be aware that as an affiliate I can be paid a small commission should you make a purchase after following a link from my page. The whisky is also available from several other excellent retailers.
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