BOWMORE 1964 38 YEAR OLD
The oldest distillery on Islay, Bowmore has been described as the Grande Dame of the island. It still has it’s own floor maltings which make up about 30% of their requirements. Their No. 1 vaults are the oldest maturation warehouse in Scotland and the only one below sea level. An extremely limited, 38 year old Bowmore. Matured in a bourbon cask, this bottling is one of a series of three released by the Distillery. The others being a Fino and an Oloroso Sherry cask.
- Limited production
1964 seemed like a good year at the Bowmore distillery, as there was a huge number of quality releases, especially in the Distillery’s famous three-release series. A 38-year-old vintage Bowmore bottle in 1964 in a Bourbon barrel distilled on November 11, 1964, is known as the Bowmore’s “golden year”. This 1964 version is a real special release. Bottled at the age of 38, after nearly four decades of maturity in a Bourbon barrel, the Bowmore 1964 is packed in a luxurious wooden box with locks and keys.
Only 300 bottles of Bowmore 1964 38 years were released worldwide. Each bottle is bottled at a concentration of 43.2% ABV, with a volume of 700ml.
- Rich taste
Distilled on November 11, 1964 and released in Spring 2003. Gold colour. A little closed at first – just some banana and some vanilla – but it’s soon to open up, on the 1960’s Bowmores’ main markers: tropical fruits (mainly passion fruit and ripe kiwi) and some very nice ripe gooseberry. Goes on with caramelised apple, old books, curry, and hints of violets. A superb nose, even if quite narrower than the oloroso version’s. Mouth: the attack is much more indefinite, but loads of dried herbs are soon to arrive. Quite peppery, with hints of mustard, and finally some peat.
Notes of cold over-infused tea. Goes on with white pepper and vanilla. The finish is very long, on caramel and pepper.
