Bowmore Devil's Casks Limited Release Batch #3
This is the third release of this infamous and exciting series of single malt whiskies from Bowmore Distillery in Islay.
The story goes that the church in Bowmore was built without corners so that the Devil could not hide. One evening, the locals chased the devil out the church and he ran into Bowmore Distillery and hid inside casks bound for mainland Scotland. These casks became 'The Devil's Casks.'
A single malt whisky matured in first fill sherry oak casks, specifically Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez, which impart a rich and intense flavour, producing 'Double the Devil'.A very limited expression - this series has generated a cult status among whisky fans, so don't miss out!
Dark in colour, on the nose this is a rich and complex aroma of thick fruits and earthy toffee. The palate is smooth and oily, with dried fruits and treacle, which develops into smoky fruitcake on the long lasting finish. Intense and rich whisky with notes of coffee, salted treacle, chocolate fudge and dates.
When the folk of Bowmore formed an angry mob to chase the devil out of the church (which is of course round, offering him nowhere to hide), down the road and through the distillery, it was assumed that he must have made his escape in a cask heading to the mainland aboard the Maid of Islay. Some first fill sherry casks at Bowmore make you wonder though, how can whisky be so devilishly delicious? This third and final Devil's Casks release uses both oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks for the first time.
Tasting Notes
Breathe in a wave of rich, dark, exotic fruits, including sultanas, mangos and raisins, fused with earthy angelica root and treacle toffee. Give in to temptation and sip the smooth, rounded taste of dates, chocolate fudge and salted treacle, warmed by orange-laced Aruba coffee. Finally, savour the powerful, long--lasting finish of smoked fruitcake, blood orange and sea salt. Devilishly rewarding and a great addition to any whisky collection, this limited-edition release not only tells a tale, it spells the end.
About Bowmore
Bowmore is located in the centre of Islay and occupies a central role in the island’s whiskies. The distillery has retained its own floor maltings which account for 40% of its needs and when mixed with malt from the mainland results in a medium peated spirit.
Its smoke, reminiscent of beach bonfires, mingles with a distinctly saline note, flowers, cereal, citrus and underneath a touch of tropical fruit. It is this character which, when matured in refill casks for a long period of time, becomes the primary aroma, the peat seemingly disappearing completely.
A significant percentage of the make is aged in ex-Sherry butts which take Bowmore off in another direction – one of dark fruits, chocolate, coffee, citrus and smoke. The extensive range picks and chooses between these extremes. A significant percentage of the distillery’s whisky is matured on the island, with the distillery’s No.1 Vaults being held to have the most extraordinary microclimate. This chill, damp environment – the vault is below the level of Loch Indaal and one wall makes up the town’s sea wall – is seen as ideal for long-term maturation.
There are claims that Bowmore’s distillery started operation in 1779, but there’s no evidence of whisky being made until a certain John Simpson took out a licence in 1816. It wouldn’t be until 1837 when the Glasgow blending firm, Wm & Jas. Mutter took over that it began to gain traction and reputation. In 1841, Windsor Castle requested a cask of Bowmore – this being a time when the English palate was considered too delicate (or Scotch too bold). As often happens, the distillery passed through a number of hands before in this case it was bought, in 1963, by broker Stanley P. Morrison. The Morrison era saw the start of what is recognised as a legendary period in Bowmore’s history – its mid-1960s bottlings are legendary.
The distillery was substantially modernised with an innovative heat recovery system not only cutting down on fuel bills but creating sufficient excess hot water to heat the town’s swimming pool. In 1989 the Japanese distiller Suntory bought a stake in the distillery and took full control in 1994, the year after the ground-breaking Black Bowmore was launched. This 100% Sherry-aged release was sold for what at the time was seen as the ludicrously inflated price of £100.
In 2014 Suntory bought Jim Beam which, from an Islay perspective, sees two of Islay’s most iconic single malts (Bowmore and Laphroaig) under the same ownership.
56.7% ABV
70cl
