Bowmore 26 Years Old 1989 Authentic Collection (56.5%, WM Cadenhead, Bourbon HH, 210 Bottles, 2015)
Whisky Review
- Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky
- Origin: Bowmore Distillery
- Bottling: Cadenhead’s; Authentic Collection
- ABV: 56.5%
- Cost: ~ £150 at auction

What they say:
A 26 year old Bowmore bottled by Cadenhead’s.
Distilled in 1989 and bottled in 2015 from a single bourbon hogshead.
One of 210 bottles.
What I say:
A 26 year old single cask Bowmore, distilled in 1989 and bottled in 2015, produced by Cadenheads and barley costing 3 figures unlike official Bowmore bottlings.
Colour:
Antique champagne gold (5/20), quick large tears & medium legs
Nose:
Chalky, vanilla and fruit, peach, banana, mango, pineapple, gentle peat smoke, seashells/calcium carbonate, perfumed, dusty, floral violets, talcum powder (a hint of the famed Bowmore FWP?)
Taste:
Rounded and lively on the palate, hints of spices, peaty edge and fruity, love heart sweeties, zesty sherbet but well-sugared and with a richness of honey & syrup too, thins and a little heat appears with more peat and drying tannic tea, wood & charcoal.
Finish:
Long, sweet icing sugar, dusty char and wood, charcoal and parma violets
Overall:
A little reserved, old and tempered peat allows a little cereal, fruit and florality to shine through, my final comment was ‘it is still punchier than official bottlings’ – of which I have found rather tame of late!
Score: 87/100
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