Bowmore, 30-Year-Old, 2022 Release, Islay, Single Malt Scotch Whisky (45.3%)
About this SPIRIT
Bowmore Distillery, Islay
Bowmore Distillery, situated on the rugged Hebridean Island of Islay, was founded in 1779 and is the second oldest distillery in Scotland today. The distillery's location on this windswept isle has played an important part in determining the legendary smoky and rich character of the single malt whisky it produces.
Bowmore Single Malt is produced using water from the nearby Laggan River, which echoes the flavours of the Islay peat used in the fires of the malt-drying kiln. The distillery is among the last to have maintained a tradition of malting its own barley by hand, turning with wooden malt shovels. Around one-quarter of the malt needed for its whiskies is made in-house; the rest is bought in. The malt used has a phenol specification of 25-30 ppm.
Today, the distillery is owned by Beam Suntory, but tradition still reigns, with Warehouse No.1, standing right next to the sea, still the oldest whisky warehouse in use in Scotland. The character of the single malt is further developed here, where the whiskies are kept for up to 40 years in ex-Sherry and ex-Bourbon casks.
(Adapted from the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024)
Islay Whisky
The whisky region of Islay (pronounced eye-la) is arguably the most important 200 or so square miles in the whisky world. On the face of it Islay just another island of the Inner Hebrides. It lies in Argyll just to the west of Jura and around 25 miles north of the Irish coast, which can be seen on a clear day.
The island's fame as far as whisky goes is due to the 8 distilleries currently in production and the vast tracts of peat that cover most of the island's surface. The whisky distilleries are: Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman (this is the newest distillery on the island which started producing spirit in 2005), Lagavulinand Laphroaig.
The 8 distilleries with whisky for sale can be divided up, depending on the amount of peat used. The `big 3' are Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig who all produce powerful smoke laden whiskies. The new malt produced by Kilchoman is also very powerful indeed.
Occupying the middle ground are Bowmore and Caol Ila. The whiskies produced at Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain are in peat terms at least, the lightest.
There were more distilleries in the past: Port Ellen closed in 1983 while the Lochindaal at Port Charlotte closed in1929. The buildings at Port Ellen are however still in use, it is here that malted barley for the island's distilleries is produced.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
Deep rusty gold in the glass, this has a most enticing nose of honey & heather, with tropical notes of peach on the nose beautifully segueing into the same on the tip of the tongue then banana and tropical loveliness coming through on mid and back palate.
A real sweetness with incredible fruity, butterscotch with the backdrop all the while of the salty rope and peatiness that is so typical of well-aged Bowmore.
Sam Phillips, Commercial Spirits Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd (October 2023)
spirit at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee