Bowmore, Islay Scotland’s oldest distillery, is bringing its new Sherry Oak Cask Collection to the USA. Single malt lovers will be able to choose from 12, 15, 18, and 25-year-old expressions.
The two younger offers are available now. The other three will be on the market by mid-February.
Bowmore 12-Year-Old Sherry Oak Cask (SRP: $90, 40% abv) embraces a rhapsody of flavors to achieve a distinctively harmonious character. Sweet spice and nuttiness come to the fore, while smouldering smokiness blends harmoniously with notes of fruit and woodiness from the Sherry casks. Matured for 12 years in European oak Oloroso sherry casks and American oak ex-bourbon barrels, finished in European oak Oloroso sherry seasoned casks.
Bowmore 15-Year-Old Sherry Oak Cask (SRP: $160, 43% abv) captures the elegance of Bowmore’s single malt, adding a layer of sweetness from the selective maturation in first-fill Oloroso casks. Rich, with natural smoke and minerality alongside a woodier, sweeter and fruitier finish. Matured for 15 years in European oak Oloroso sherry casks and American oak ex-bourbon barrels, finished in European oak Oloroso sherry seasoned casks.
Bowmore 18-Year-Old Sherry Oak Cask (SRP: $325, 43% abv) delivers a dramatically layered, yet balanced character. Sherry cask finishing first in Oloroso seasoned casks, followed by Pedro Ximenez, adds a fresh sweetness of bright fruit notes without overpowering the smouldering smoke. Aged for 18 years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels and European oak Oloroso sherry casks, finished in European oak Pedro Ximénez sherry seasoned casks.
Bowmore 21-Year-Old Sherry Oak Cask (SRP: $450, 47% abv) reveals a multi-layered character. Time and carefully selected finishing in Oloroso seasoned casks, followed by Pedro Ximenez, encourages intensity and complexity, but in complete harmony. Matured for 21 years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels and European oak Oloroso sherry casks, finished in first-fill European oak Pedro Ximenez Sherry-seasonon casks.
Source: Bowmore
“We’re excited to share this new collection with our fans in the US, where appreciation for barrel aging, and the whisky finesse they’ve come to expect, is at an all-time high. The expressions brilliantly showcase the exceptional craft of Bowmore, under the leadership of Master Blender Dr. Calum Fraser, with four age statements that provide a master class in the use of sherry finishing in whisky production.”
About Bowmore®
(From the distillery) For over 240 years, Bowmore distillery has stood on the shores of Lochindaal. Here facing the wild Atlantic Ocean is home to the legendary No.1 Vaults and the mysterious alchemy within. As Islay’s oldest licensed distillery, Bowmore has been harnessing time in the creation of its exceptional whiskies. This time has enabled Bowmore to hone skills and ensured intentional choices are made in creating the whiskies. From the careful and intentional ethos at the heart of the Bowmore distillery, every step and stage of the process is considered from floor maltings and peat smoke drying, to the long fermentation and slow distillation. The result of this precise and measured approach can be seen in the distinct and multi-dimensional flavors, for which Bowmore is famous, always promising more layers of flavor. Every bottle of Bowmore celebrates its ability to mature with excellence, aging like no other to capture the definitive expressive character of Bowmore. Over time, the spirit evolves perfectly in cask, creating an enviable inventory of maturing stock and enabling an iconic archive of releases.
