1989 Bourbon Cask Matured

Bowmore's claim to 1779 makes it one of Scotland's oldest distilleries, but this 1989 vintage stands apart. Sixteen years in bourbon cask has produced a whisky that keeps Islay's characteristic light smoke without dominance — a deliberate choice by Bowmore to blend peated and unpeated malt.

Bourbon cask maturation brought vanilla and wood influence without overwhelming the island's mineral core. Cask strength (51.80%) leaves room for the full spectrum: sweet notes through spicy warmth.

Nose: smoke and fruit, with hints of tobacco and leather. Palate: multi-layered peat with shifting intensity — from liquorice to sweet tones — and creamy texture. Finish: long, with ash minerality and mineral tingle.