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1257 Kensington Road NW
1 (403) 283-8000 / atyourservice@kensingtonwinemarket.com
$64.99
This bottle was featured in 50ml Mini bottle form on Day 19 of our 2020 KWM Whisky Calendar.
The Bowmore 12 Year Old is one of the iconic Single Malt Scotch Whiskies from Islay. Bowmore Distillery is the oldest distillery on Islay and one of the oldest in Scotland, having been founded in 1779.
750ml mlOUT OF STOCK
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Evan’s Tasting Note
Nose: Softly burning embers, gentle smoke, orange marmalade, honey, Tiger Balm, citrus oils, leather, cigar humidor, and lavender bath soap.
Palate: Creamy, oily and ashy with oranges, cloves, roasted walnuts, Thrills chewing gum, double bergamot Earl Grey tea, and white chocolate cake with lavender frosting.
Finish: Soft and earthy with a floral smoke and a touch of citrus.
Comment: Every time I see a Single Malt Scotch (or any whisky for that matter) bottled at the minimum 40% ABV, my knee-jerk reaction is to grouse about it. That being said, this Bowmore 12 is rich enough to drink at this strength, and more than enjoyable enough to keep drinking it.
Producer Tasting Note
Breathe In: Subtle lemon and honey, balanced beautifully by Bowmore's trademark peaty smokiness.
Sip: Warm and delicious on the palate with subtle dark chocolate flavours.
Savour: Trademark gentle peat smoke, leading to a delicious, long and mellow finish.
Bowmore Distillery is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland and is the oldest on Islay that still exists, having been founded in 1779. It currently vies with Lagavulin to be the 2nd best-selling Islay Single Malt brand.
The Distillery itself lies within the town which shares its name and is right against the shoreline of Loch Indaal. Even though the distillery is on the coast, it can still be considered closest to the centre of Islay. The town of Bowmore only predates the distillery by less than two decades, and it was the first planned settlement in Scotland.
The town’s gridlike layout and construction were initiated in 1768 by Daniel Campbell the Younger, who was the owner of the Islay and part of Jura. He resided in the famous Islay House and planned the town of Bowmore to resettle residents from the village of Kilarrow. Kilarrow was situated close to Islay House, near what is now called Bridgend. It is said that Daniel the Younger felt that Kilarrow spoiled the view between Islay House and Loch Indaal. All that remains of the old village is a cemetery on Islay House property.
On the upside, Daniel the Younger did also build the now-famous Kilarrow Parish that is atop the hill in Bowmore. The church is famous for being entirely round so that it gives to corner for the devil to hide in. Bowmore and the Kilarrow Parish lay a little over 4km south of Bridgend and where the previous village existed. Currently, the town of Bowmore is populated by around 800 residents.
As for the distillery, Bowmore’s nearest neighbour is Bruichladdich, which is a 15-minute drive West along the coastal road A847 to the other side of Loch Indaal. Caol Ila Distillery is about a 20-minute drive to the East along the A846. If you head South from Bowmore the Port Ellen Maltings (and soon the rebuilt Port Ellen Distillery is about a 20-minute drive as well, and from there you can get to Laphroaig Distillery, Lagavulin and Ardbeg which all lie within 10 minutes drive from there.
Like Laphroaig, the Bowmore distillery is owned by parent company Beam Suntory. Also like Laphroaig, Bowmore is one of three distilleries on Islay to have its own on-site floor maltings and peat kilns, which are able to produce just about one-third of Bowmore’s needs for mashing and distillation.
Insert Peat Here: One of the Kilns At Bowmore Distillery
The 12 Year Old has been one of the core expressions in the Bowmore range for quite a while. Included in the core range are the no age statement Bowmore No.1, the 12 Year, 15 Year, 18 Year, and 25 Year Old. Various limited expressions have been available over the past few years, including the ongoing Vaults series, the Winemaker’s Trilogy. Currently, there are sparse independent bottlings available of Bowmore, and they tend to be expensive when they are released.
$152.99
The Corryvreckan started out as a replacement for the Airigh Nam Beist but has become a legend in its own right. The whisky has a unique sweet and spicy twist which blends well with the whisky's peaty maritime backbone. Bottled at 57.1% this whisky is often amongst the highest scoring with whisky critics and reviewers. It gets its sweet and spicy characteristics from the French oak in which some of the vatting is matured.
$99.99
One of Scotland's most beloved whiskies, this 10 year old highlights the distillery's peaty provenance. Although technically the most peated full time production whisky in Scotland, the distilleries stills and spirit-purifier gives this malt a softer edge than might be expected. It has been bottled at 46% without colouring or chill-filtering.
$89.99
We would have loved to have seen a higher abv, but they are getting some good press! 40%
Producer Description: "A marriage of Bowmore matured in Oloroso sherry casks and American Oak ex-bourbon barrels, finished in first fill Spanish Oak Oloroso sherry casks."
$117.99
The 15 Year Bowmore is finished for 3 years in Oloroso Sherry before bottling at 43%. Bowmore Distillery, est. 1779 is the oldest distillery on Islay and one of the oldest in Scotland. The whisky is moderately peated by the standards of most other Islay whiskies, and malts 40% of their own barley. 43% ABV.
Producer Description
"Matured first in bourbon barrels then Oloroso casks, there's no finer example of a sherry cask finish than our 15 Year Old. It's the final three years spent in Oloroso sherry casks that gives Bowmore 15 Year Old the rich, deep colour and robust warming finish."
