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Bowmore 15 years Darkest

woody malty
3.9
(13)€50Scotland, Islay, Single Malt

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Whisky character

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Warm
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Spicy

Taste mentions

Facts

Bowmore stands on Islay, and its 15 year old spends most of its life in bourbon casks. The last three years happen somewhere else. The whisky is moved into Oloroso sherry casks, and that final stretch changes everything. Colour deepens. Dried fruit and dark chocolate move to the front. Island smoke is still there, sitting underneath, salty and faintly medicinal. What you get is a peated malt that tastes sweet and dark at the same time. Few Islay whiskies balance those two sides so plainly. It is a good place to start if sherry casks interest you.

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3.9 /5

13 reviews

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About the distillery

Distillery

Bowmore

Bowmore is a Scotch whisky distillery located in the town of Bowmore on the Scottish island of Islay. It is one of the oldest distilleries on the island, having been established in 1779 by local merchant David Simson. Bowmore is known for producing a range of peated and unpeated single malt whiskies. The distillery sources its water from the nearby Laggan River, which is said to contribute to the unique character of its whiskies. The barley used in production is malted on site using traditional floor malting techniques. The distillery has its own cooperage, where skilled craftsmen create and repair casks used for maturing the whisky.

4Average rating

147Whiskies on Distilld

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Islay

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About the Bowmore 15 years Darkest

Bowmore 15 years Darkest is a single malt Scotch whisky from Islay, bottled at 43%. It carries fifteen years of age and a heavy sherry influence. The spirit starts out peated, the way most Islay malts do. Sherry casks then pull it in a darker, sweeter direction. The result sits between two familiar camps. It is smoky enough for peat drinkers and rich enough for sherry drinkers. The distillery sits on the shore of Loch Indaal, on Islay's western side. Sea air and island peat shape the malt long before any cask does. Maturation here runs in two stages. The first twelve years build the vanilla and caramel backbone. The spirit then moves into Oloroso sherry casks for its final three years. That last stretch is where the colour and the dried fruit come from. Aromas lead with dried fruit, dates and dried fig, over a base of caramel and fudge. A medicinal, briny note runs underneath, which is pure Islay. The palate turns to dark chocolate, cherry and baking spice, with cinnamon behind them. Peat smoke arrives late and leaves a trace of ash. The finish is long and earthy, holding chocolate, sea salt and a soft floral lift. Nothing shouts here, and the parts stay in balance. Bowmore 15 years Darkest is the sherry-driven end of the range. Other bottlings from the distillery keep more citrus and sea air in view. Here the fruit is darker and the texture heavier, without losing the smoke. That balance is the point of the bottling, and it holds well at 43%. Anyone curious about how peat and Oloroso work together will find a clear example in this glass.