Bowmore 12 Year Old + 2 glasses / 40% / 0.7l

Bowmore Distillery has been producing whisky since 1779 and is the oldest distillery still in operation on Islay. Its name comes from the Gaelic bogh mòr, which roughly translates to ‘great reef’.

Bowmore is now owned by Beam Suntory and is one of a handful of Scottish distilleries that malts barley on-site, although its own malting plant only covers 30% of its demand. The 12-year-old has been a staple of the company’s offering for decades, with the producer describing it as “the pure essence of Bowmore – crashing ocean waves, windswept countryside and centuries of tradition… vanilla ice cream served by a dying beach fire.” The set presented here includes two tasting glasses.

Aroma: vanilla enveloped in peat smoke and salty sea breeze, seaweed, orange zest and a pinch of pepper.

Palate : shy notes of sherry, vanilla, honey, dried plums, a pinch of sea salt and allspice and peat smoke in the background.

Finish: long, with notes of vanilla, toffee, sea salt and peat smoke.