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1257 Kensington Road NW
1 (403) 283-8000 / atyourservice@kensingtonwinemarket.com
$167.99
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We could have left it at that, but sometimes the distillery has such a special place in our hearts that we need to take it a step or two further. Bowmore is Islay's oldest distillery. It was founded in 1779 along the shores of Loch Indaal, the body of water that nearly bisects the isle of Islay. The waves literally lick the walls of the warehouses, and whether or not you believe in the idea of whisky terroir, there is simply no debate when it comes to acknowledging that the barrels rolling out of these ancient dunnage warehouses truly are something special.
Bowmore 18 has had its ups and downs throughout the years, but in the past few releases we've been privy to, show the distillery back at the top of its game. Seemingly gone are the lavender-heavy days of distillation; we're back in full-on fruit mode. And the smoke? Bold enough to provide an unwavering backbone, yet gentle enough to expand the appeal well beyond the peat-addicted masses. Great to have Bowmore back where it should be.
43% ab
750 mlCurt's Tasting Note
Nose: Smoky grape juice. A sweet citrus note. The tiniest hint of sweet BBQ sauce. A hint of licorice and coffee. Somewhat jammy (raspberry-ish?). A nice rising fruitiness and ebbing peat. Good balance, and better than I remember this one being. How ’bout a concoction of cola with a drop or two of both cherry and vanilla and a light dusting of pepper.
Palate: A great smoky, jammy note right up front. A hefty dollop of peat (more than expected and more than the nose belies). Some orange. Anise. Slightly medicinal. Some bready tones.
Finish: Leaves a drying, wet rock feeling. Flavours are all grape and smoke.
Thoughts: A little closer to the Bowmore of old, and I like that. A LOT. If only it had been bottled at 46%.
Producer Tasting Notes
Breathe In: Creamy caramel toffee, with ripe fruit and smoke aromas.
Sip: Incredibly complex, with beautiful soft fruit and chocolate balanced with a light smokiness.
Savour: The long and wonderfully balanced 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.
$132.99
This Ardbeg, pronounced (pronounced ‘Oog-a-dal’), is a mariage of ex-Bourbon and ex-sherry casks. It takes it's name from the mysterious Loch that also happens to be Ardbeg Distillery's water source. It is bottled at 54.2%, but is still very approachable and savoury with the melding of sherry notes to Ardbeg's classic style.
$149.99
Bottled at 43%, this is part of Bowmore's new sherry cask range, which despite the low ABV, punches above its weight.
Producer Description: "Adds a layer of sweetness from the Sherry cask influence. Rich with natural smoke, and minerality alongside a woodier, sweeter, and fruitier finish."
$215.99
Bottled at 43% as part of the new Bowmore Sherry Oak range, which is getting good early reviews!
Producer Description: "Expertly bringing together delicious and diverse fruity notes with a gentle peaty flavour that is unmistakably Bowmore, its maturation in hand-selected ex-Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, with a Pedro Ximenez Sherry cask finish, gives this 18-old an arresting poise and compexity."
$164.99
** 2 PER CUSTOMER!! Lagavulin might well be the most iconic of Islay malts. And the distillery, which celebrated its bicentennial in 2016, is unquestionably one of the most beloved of all Scotch malt producers. Up until the launch of the much-lauded 8 year old in 2016, the 16 year old was the distillery’s entry level expression. In spite of the new arrival, however, the 16 remains the flagship expression in the range, and for good reason. A cornerstone in any whisky collection. 90pts Serge @WhiskyFun
