Bowmore 1974 (Bottled 1990) Moon Import, The Birds / 43% / 0.75l

Moon Import was founded in 1980 in Genoa by Pepi Mongiardino and quickly became famous as an importer and distributor of high-quality wines and spirits.

Following the suggestion of the legendary Silvano Samaroli († 2017), Mongiardino avoided cooperation with industry giants and focused on bottling single barrels of whisky, usually from private owners. Over time, he became the official distributor of Bruichladdich, Tamnavulin and Tullibardine. In 1982, Mongiardino offered its first whisky in the debut Half Moon series. In addition to the highest quality of the distillates themselves, the Moon Import editions are characterized by a unique presentation. The most famous series – “The Animals, Birds, Sea and Costumes” – are labeled with a Mongiardino design, inspired by old engravings from an 18th-century German encyclopedia. In an interview in 2015, Mongiardino complained that obtaining a high-quality barrel of whisky today is almost impossible and he is considering closing down the business.

The Bowmore presented here, distilled 1974, was aged in a hogshead for around 16 years. The whisky was bottled at 43% abv in 1990 as part of The Birds, an edition of 600 bottles.