1989 16 yr Bowmore

[cajones]

I just purchased the 16 yr old 1989 Bowmore for $80. It is a gift so I am wondering whether it is a good single malt, and if I got a good deal.

Cheers

[Admiral]

I believe Lawrence tasted this recently and was quite impressed?

[kallaskander]

Hi there,

can you tell us more about that Bowmore 16, please?

Greetings
kallaskander

[corbuso]

The price for the Bowmore 1989 Cask Strength is correct, nothing to say about it.
It is in the same range as the 17 YO, but cask strength.

I have ordered two bottles for myself and still waiting for them, so I have not been able to taste it so far.

[Aidan]

I have tasted it and it's great. It is very different to the 17 yr old, even though I think it's matured the same way.

I take it you are talking about the one in the beige box?

[kallaskander]

Hi there,

indeed the beige box one would be the Bowmore for Germany.

I wrote the following about that.

I tried the 16 years OB non chill-filtered straight from the cask bottled especially for Germany a few days ago. WOW! I did not find any FWP but only a superb balance of fruit and mild peat, no soap whatsoever, again a wonderful balance of sweetness and a touch of smokiness. It is less sherried than the usual Bowmore OB, the colour is that of polished brass. It is just its natural colour and caramel free. The strength is 51.8%. There were lighter more floral notes beside the fruitiness but no lavender or lillies. It also showed toffee and marzipanlike flavours. The finish is long and fruity sweet with a good matched peatiness woven through that fruity sweetness. It is smooth elegant and rather light. I´d say it is an Islay that just touches the realm of peatiness and rides and skims the waves instead of being in real contact. I really like that style. A pitty it is a limited edition and a bit too expensive for a 16 year old.
It very much reminded me of the first Bowmore Surf I had in 1992. A Surf from around 2000 I had at my friends place I did not really like, it had changed to a kind of harshness. But again it had no soap or FWP.

http://www.whiskymag.com/forum/viewtopi ... c&start=45

Greetings
kallaskander

[corbuso]

Hi there,

indeed the beige box one would be the Bowmore for Germany.

.... A pitty it is a limited edition and a bit too expensive for a 16 year old.
It very much reminded me of the first Bowmore Surf I had in 1992. A Surf from around 2000 I had at my friends place I did not really like, it had changed to a kind of harshness. But again it had no soap or FWP.

http://www.whiskymag.com/forum/viewtopi ... c&start=45

Greetings
kallaskander

IF you find the 1989 a bit too expensive, what do you think then of the 1971 released at the same time?

[Lawrence]

I've had two of the recently released 16 year old. The first in Paris at Whisky Live was a limited edition and was very good and it reminded me of Bowmore of old, a good solid whisky with lots of fire and peat and NO FWP.

The second one is in exactly the same packing and label but is a more wide spread release and frankly my palate was a little over worked near the end of an evening of tasting so I don't have accurate recollections. However I have bought some bottles for our club and when we taste it I'll post the tasting notes.

[cajones]

Island Islay Bowmore 1989 Cask Strength (51.8%) Collector's Box (Metal Lock)
This Bowmore 16 Year Old is from a limited edition of only 134, predominantly bourbon casks, married, bottled at its natural cask strength
Tannish Cream colored box with similar colored label.

Thanks again for all the replies

C.A.Jones

[hpulley]

134 casks is not a limited edition. 134 bottles is a limited edition.

Harry

[Deactivated Member]

30,000 bottles or so? Well, I guess they're all limited when you get down to it.

[The Dazzler]

Just poured a dram of the 16yo Bowmore 51.8%vol. This was taken from the 134 casks previously mentioned.

I find this a good whisky, no floral or soap notes previously mentioned in other Bowmores. This expression is light and easy on the palate even at full strength. Aromas grassy, mossy and sweet, not too much smoke or peat notes. On the palate it is spicy with malty flavours showing more coastal falvours than the peatiness perhaps expected. It is well balanced though if looking for the full on Peat/Smoke/Islay effect look elsewhere.

Personally find this to be and excellent dram. Bowmore has been a bit lost in recent times and I do think floral/herbal notes in it seperate it from other Islays and therefore like all other whiskies its a taste people enjoy or not. This bottle is a bit different and more like a Springbank or an old bottling of Bunnahabhain.

Slainte

[cajones]

I don't know how it could be considered a limited edition either considering the 134 casks. The only reason I said that is because it is printed directly on the label. What then could make it a limited edition?

[Aidan]

I think it's a limited edition because they are not going to rease this on all markets and they aren't going to continue it. It's not that limited, though.

[kallaskander]

Hi there,

134 casks with an average content of 500 ltr. makes 67000, with an average of 250 ltr. it´s 33500 and with an average of 200 ltr. it is 26800 ltr.. Divide that through 0,7 ltr. or 0,75 ltr. per bottle and there you are.
It is labeled limited editon and we in Germany were told, it was made for Germany exclusively. I do not insist on that for it is a excellent Bowmore. It just goes to show that "limited" is a relativistic term.

Greetings
kallaskander

[bamber]

..... It just goes to show that "limited" is a relativistic term.
Greetings
kallaskander

At relativistic velocities you might get an even greater mass of whisky out of those casks

Disclaimer: I only speak English. sorry to be facetious.

[suffolkwhisky]

This is the best bottle of Bowmore I have tried - and believe me I have tried a few!

[Aidan]

Have you tried the more sherried release?

[suffolkwhisky]

Yes - in many versions. This current 16 has so much excellent sweetness without relying on sherry (which can overpower the balance Bowmore).

[lbacha]

I just spent a few days at Bowmore in april and Percy stated that they are marking it as a limited edition because they don't plan on bottling more of it. They are bottling a vertion for this year that is from sherry casks and it will be limited as well.

If they had said collectors edition I would question the amount but the fact it will only be available for a limited time fits the description of limited edition.

By the way it is an excellent dram and Park Avenue Liquors in New York just got some so I may be able to get another bottle.

Len