Well, after the Bowmore 1983 25yo (DL OMC) that seemed to be sponsored by Sunlight soap, let’s prove Bowmore made wonderful stuff as well. It’s always a previlege to taste really old whiskies. Especially a Bowmore from the Sixties, because it’s made in the “old style”. That is before they’ve changed their profile to the smoky, salty and slightly perfumed profile we know today.
Bowmore 32y 1968 ‘Anniversary edition’ (45,5%, OB 2001, 1860 btl.)
Nose: very aromatic and an avalanche of fruits. You name it, it’s there. At first: delicious cavaillon (orange melon) and tangerine, but these notes fade rather quickly. Then grapefruit and apple. Excellent vanilla pudding. Back to the tropical fruit. More candy-like now: mango and passion fruit sweets. Then pineapple too, again with a hint of vanilla and a bit of mint. This is like an exquisite ice cream with fresh tropical fruits. Strangely enough, hardly any Islay notes. Well, there’s something slightly maritime and smokey, but it’s hard to notice and gone before you know it. Absolutely wonderful.
Mouth: very big with the same fruits: passion fruit, grapefruit and tangerine. Some pear and lemon. A bit of peat now and more noticeable smoke, but still far from the current Islay style. A faint hint of coffee. Good balance between sweet and bitter fruit notes. Then a slightly peppered tingle as well, but overall refined.
Finish: beautiful. The tangerine and passion fruit fade slowly. In the end only the bitter grapefruit notes remain.
Wow, incredible whisky and among the best fruit juices I’ve ever had! Not for die-hard peatheads though, because it doesn’t have the Bowmore profile we are used to from modern bottlings. Sometimes still available from retailers like The Whisky Exchange.
Score: 94/100.