Bowmore 2015 Cadenhead's Original Collection 10 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay

Bourbon Barrels 

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

At the moment, there’s something of a Bowmore craze amongst independent bottlers. Whilst it was difficult to buy Bowmore casks as recently as two years ago, there are now more of them available, and many companies are buying their own casks. In this case, it’s Cadenhead’s, the most respected and venerable of Scottish companies, so it’s not just one but several casks that have been blended to form part of the Original Collection range. The whisky is young,  just ten years old, but has been matured in simple Bourbon casks, which will bring out the characteristics of the distillate. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Slightly dry peat, herbaceous, hay and tall grasses, mineral, limestone and granite, and of course coastal notes, kelp and dried seaweed. Metallic reflections, iron filings. In the background, a dash of vanilla and some fruit, though this remains subtle, mirabelle plums, bananas, perhaps a touch of something exotic. On the palate, it’s well-crafted, with lovely, rich peat interspersed with creamy vanilla, banana, coconut, dried pineapple and subtle spices. A fairly long finish, charcoal, earth, forest, cinnamon, ferns, nutmeg, pine cones, bark, honey and marzipan. Bits of brioche. 

 

In Short, 

Having tasted it, I thought to myself that it’s always the same with Bowmore. It’s a wonderful distillery, but you have to wait at least 15 or 16 years, and more often than not 18, before you get something truly special. And this one is no exception. That was before I learnt about the hype surrounding this bottle. Critics have detected an abundance of exotic fruit and an ‘old-school’ character. Admittedly, there is a hint of exoticism deep in the background, but for me, I mainly found what I usually find in younger Bowmores: herbaceous and woody notes, plenty of minerality and a hint of iron filings. Then again, perhaps something slipped past me, I’m by no means infallible, especially as I didn’t taste it under the best possible conditions. It’s up to each person to judge, but it’s now sold out almost everywhere, and the last few bottles are fetching a tragicomic price. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Neckbreakers - Tough Love