Bowmore : 15 Year Old Sherry Oak

Characteristics and tasting advice for Bowmore's 15 Year Sherry Oak

Tasting

Nose
A rich and complex bouquet revealing notes of Corinthian raisins, sweet dates, enhanced by mild spices and cinnamon. Aromas of cocoa beans and a hint of dark chocolate mingle with subtle smoke.

Palate
A velvety texture where flavors of raisin and spicy wood blossom. The palate is then caressed by notes of molasses caramel, sweet confectionery, clove spices, and licorice root. The delicate presence of cedar wood adds an extra dimension to this tasting experience.

Pairings and tasting moments

This single malt is ideally tasted at room temperature, in a tulip glass that concentrates its complex aromas. Its sweet and spicy notes pair perfectly with desserts made from dark chocolate or pastries with dried fruits. It also makes an excellent digestif to conclude a meal, to be savored slowly to appreciate its beautiful length on the palate.

A rich and complex Scottish single malt, enhanced by aging in sherry casks

Bowmore, the historical heritage of Islay

Founded in 1779 by David Simson, Bowmore is the oldest distillery in Islay and the first to have obtained an official license in 1816. Nestled on the shores of Loch Indaal, it draws its water from the Laggan River and perpetuates the tradition of artisan malting. Owned by the Suntory group since 1994, Bowmore embodies the perfect alliance between ancestral methods and contemporary innovations. Its Scottish whiskies stand out for their aromatic richness and maritime character, a faithful reflection of the Islay island terroir. In August 2024, while preserving its centuries-old heritage, the distillery unveiled a new bottle design and new ranges, demonstrating its ability to evolve while remaining true to its identity.

Exceptional aging in sherry casks

The Bowmore 15 Year Sherry Oak represents the excellence of the know-how of this iconic Islay distillery. This single malt benefits from a meticulously orchestrated maturation process, starting with at least 15 years of aging in European oak Oloroso Sherry casks and ex-Bourbon American oak casks. This double maturation gives the whisky a remarkable complexity, enriched by an exclusive finish in first-fill European oak Oloroso Sherry casks.

This finish in sherry casks gives the spirit its characteristic notes of dried fruits, mild spices, and chocolate, while preserving the subtle maritime identity typical of Bowmore whiskies. The influence of the Oloroso sherry casks is manifested by rich and mellow aromas of raisins and dates, while the passage in bourbon casks contributes to the overall balance by bringing vanilla and woody notes.

The result is a whisky of great elegance, where the richness of flavors is expressed with harmony, offering a beautiful length on the palate and a memorable finish dominated by mild and pleasant spices.