Bowmore : 25 Year Old

Tasting characteristics and serving suggestions for Bowmore 25 Years Old

Tasting

Appearance
Bowmore 25 Years Old shows in the glass with a deep mahogany hue, a visual testament to its quarter of a century spent in oak casks.

Nose
The nose reveals rich, intense notes of dried plums, raisins, raspberry, and vanilla cream.

Palate
The palate opens with aromas of confectionery sweets, stone fruits, soft caramel, and hazelnuts. As the tasting progresses, notes of ripe peach, crème brûlée, salted caramel, butterscotch, burnt cocoa, as well as an elegant smokiness and a saline minerality typical of Islay unfold.

Pairings and serving occasions

This exceptional whisky is best enjoyed neat, at room temperature, to fully appreciate the complexity developed over its 25 years of maturation.

Other characteristics

This single malt shows a medium-peated profile characteristic of Bowmore, more refined than that of other Islay distilleries. The elegant smoke is accompanied by a saline minerality distinctive of the island. Bottled at 43% ABV, it offers a perfect balance between power and approachability.

An Islay single malt whisky of remarkable elegance

Bowmore, the oldest distillery on Islay

Founded in 1779 by John P. Simpson, Bowmore remains the oldest distillery on Islay, producing Scotch whisky using methods that have changed little for nearly 250 years. Located on the shores of Loch Indaal, it now belongs to Beam Suntory, a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Ltd, which has owned it outright since 1994. Bowmore stands out for maintaining its traditional malting floor, producing 30% of its malted barley on site. Its medium-peated profile, more refined than that of its island neighbors, develops notes of tropical fruit in bourbon casks and chocolate in sherry casks, embodying the perfect balance between tradition and approachability.

Bowmore 25 Years Old, an exceptional cask selection

Bowmore 25 Years Old represents the most accomplished expression of the distillery's expertise. This single malt has undergone extended aging in a combination of American oak casks that previously held bourbon and European oak Oloroso casks. This dual maturation takes place in the famous No.1 Vaults, among the oldest in Scotland, where the sea air from Loch Indaal slowly permeates the casks. The assemblage of this Scotch whisky draws exclusively on whiskies that have matured for a minimum of 25 years, creating a complex expression in which Islay's signature peat softens to reveal finely wrought fruity and spicy notes.