Islay Single Malt Whisky
No longer available
 |
| Just 750 Bottles all sold within three days |
The second of my Bowmore experience with Morrison Bowmore Distillers UK Regional Sales Executive, Phil Nickson, and another 15 Year Old. This one, however, was a limited edition, only available from the distillery and released for this years' Feis Ile.
Feis Ile is Islay's Music and Malt Festival, and is held in the last week of May every year, with ceilidhs, dances, recitals, children's workshops; there is something for everyone. For the last number of years all of the Islay distilleries have held open days throughout the week of the festival, and each of the eight Islay Distilleries have their day. Each of the distilleries release a new expression in celebration which are quickly snapped up by the visitors and have become collectable.
Laid down in Bowmore's No. 1 vaults, which happens to be the oldest maturation warehouse in Scotland, and the only one below sea level, the specially selected Spanish sherry casks were married yielding just 750 bottles at cask strength and was non chill-filtered. All were sold within three days.
So what did I think?
A little lighter in colour to the 15 Year Old Darkest, and much lighter and fruitier on the nose, with dates and sweet sherried fruits as well as some rich dark chocolate. The peat smoke was drifting in and out of the sweetness and there was a light salty sea spray too.
I preferred this to the Darkest 15 year old as it seemed more lively on the palate too, perhaps the higher alcohol content did this for me, but the sherried fruits were sweet and juicy, plump raisins and chewy dates, along with the Bowmore 'trade mark' bitter chocolate and gentle peat smoke.
If you did manage to get a bottle of this and you haven't opened it yet, I do hope you are intending to open it soon. When you do open it, please can you put a wee dram away for me too? I'd love to try this again, and doubt there will be an affordable opportunity to buy one!
Feis Ile is Islay's Music and Malt Festival, and is held in the last week of May every year, with ceilidhs, dances, recitals, children's workshops; there is something for everyone. For the last number of years all of the Islay distilleries have held open days throughout the week of the festival, and each of the eight Islay Distilleries have their day. Each of the distilleries release a new expression in celebration which are quickly snapped up by the visitors and have become collectable.
Laid down in Bowmore's No. 1 vaults, which happens to be the oldest maturation warehouse in Scotland, and the only one below sea level, the specially selected Spanish sherry casks were married yielding just 750 bottles at cask strength and was non chill-filtered. All were sold within three days.
So what did I think?
A little lighter in colour to the 15 Year Old Darkest, and much lighter and fruitier on the nose, with dates and sweet sherried fruits as well as some rich dark chocolate. The peat smoke was drifting in and out of the sweetness and there was a light salty sea spray too.
I preferred this to the Darkest 15 year old as it seemed more lively on the palate too, perhaps the higher alcohol content did this for me, but the sherried fruits were sweet and juicy, plump raisins and chewy dates, along with the Bowmore 'trade mark' bitter chocolate and gentle peat smoke.
If you did manage to get a bottle of this and you haven't opened it yet, I do hope you are intending to open it soon. When you do open it, please can you put a wee dram away for me too? I'd love to try this again, and doubt there will be an affordable opportunity to buy one!
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