The Malt Advocate Whisky Awards has honoured the Black Bowmore with the Scotch Malt Whisky of the Year Award. The White Bowmore was also awarded a place in The Top Ten New Whiskies for 2008.
For the past 14 years, the Malt Advocate awards programme has highlighted achievements in the drinks industry, toasting the "Best of the Best." The judges look for character, complexity, and individuality in drinks and this is certainly what they found with the now legendary Black Bowmore, 1964 Vintage, 42 year old. Black Bowmore, which was only launched in the US in 2008, was recognised as being one of the most incredible whiskies ever produced in Scotland.
The young spirit was filled into oak casks which had previously been used for maturing rich, sweet Oloroso sherry. The casks were transferred to the distillery vaults to mature below sea level and in this truly unique atmosphere the young spirit developed an aroma that is rich in exotic fruits, ginger and cinnamon. On the palate, the concentration of flavours is exhilarating, ripe mango, sweet toffee and dark chocolate with the faintest hint of the smokey Bowmore signature.
Black Bowmore was originally released as a series of limited edition expressions over three years, only a few of which still exist today. Two thousand bottles were released in 1993 at 29 years old, followed by a further 2000 bottles in 1994 at 30 years old and 1812 bottles in 1995 at 31 years old. This ‘new’ Black Bowmore is limited to only 827 bottles and originates from the same 1964 distillation.
The White Bowmore spirit that featured in the Top Ten New Whiskies category was filled into six bourbon casks on the 5 November 1964 and left to quietly mature in the deep, dark Bowmore vaults. After more than 43 years, the bourbon oak wood has infused the Bowmore spirit with light luscious vanilla tones. The colour is golden syrup, with amazing aromas of Gallia melon, mango and papaya.
Only 732 bottles have been obtained from the casks, but the result is outstanding. It is rare indeed to find a single malt scotch whisky of this quality and Bowmore are offering the chance to win one of these exclusive bottles worth £2500. To enter visit www.bowmore.co.uk
The Black Bowmore and White Bowmore are the first two whiskies of a new Bowmore trilogy. They were released in 2007 and 2008 and are to be followed by the release of Gold Bowmore later this year.
David Wilson, Sales & Marketing Director at Bowmore said: “These awards mean a great deal to us – the title of Best Scotch Malt Whisky of the Year 2008 for Black Bowmore is just fantastic and White Bowmore being welcomed as a top ten new whisky bodes well for its future. We’re delighted to be recognized in this way by Malt Advocate”.
These awards are the latest in a run of wins for Bowmore, the original whisky from Islay’s oldest distillery (est. 1779). In 2008, they scooped a ‘Gold Medal’ - the highest design accolade - for its new packaging at the International Spirits Challenge Awards. Bowmore also received the Trophy for Best Spirit Range and Trophy for Best Overall Spirit.
