Bowmore 15 year old
August 18, 2025
This review is for those who are curious about what a core range expression from one of the oldest legally recognized distilleries in Scotland might taste like. I’m talking about the Bowmore 15 year old, from the Bowmore Distillery, located in the heart of the administrative capital, of the same name, on the isle of Islay.
The Bowmore Distillery, established in 1779, is the oldest legally recognized distillery on Islay and it produces four whiskies as part of their core lineup, a 12 year old, a 15 year old, an 18 year old, and a 25 year old. I selected the core 15 year old to dig a little deeper into.
If you own a bottle of one of the core expressions that was purchased earlier this year or prior, you may notice a change in the look of the bottles currently coming out of the distillery. That’s because Bowmore updated their packaging a few months back to “premium-ize” the brand. It looks a little more elegant but I’ve found no indication that the spirit inside has changed so you should still be getting the same whisky you would expect from a core range.
This 15 year old whisky began its days maturing in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, then spent its last three years finishing the journey in European oak Oloroso sherry casks. And on the day of bottling, it was corked at 43 percent ABV. Now, there are no indications on the bottle, packaging, or Bowmore website, but my own investigations reveal that this whisky has been chill-filtered and has had some coloring added.
I’m sure corporate owner Suntory Global Spirits has good reasons for that. They just seem to have escaped me.
Visuals:
But that less-than-natural color is actually very nice, giving off a tawny shade, like light mahogany in the moonlight.
And the legs inside the glass appear to be medium thick and medium quick.
Nose:
I don’t know why but the initial nosing produces a slightly astringent scent to me, similar to nail polish remover. Then there’s model airplane glue. Good start, huh? Some sweetness is popping through next with the smell of maple syrup poured over pine cones. The earthy scent continues with something that remains me of taro root. I get the scent of melting rubber. But also some nice chocolate aroma. And that unmistakable smell inside my grandmother’s cedar chest.
Palate:
Initially, there’s a sweetness, like sweet diesel oil. And more sweet, like toffee. I taste a nice combination of two flavors that play well off one another, some caramel that’s been dipped in butter. And then at this point I get the peaty, smoke influence. It’s not a full frontal assault. It’s kind of there but also kind of subtle. Odd, but pink pencil erasers. And then the taste of cinnamon-coated burnt cherries.
I don’t have a problem with letting a 43 percent ABV whisky do its thing, so I’m leaving it alone, and not adding water for this review.
Finish:
The finish, is on the moderately longer side. There’s some sweetness on the lips and tip of the tongue, with a slight nautical note, but the rest of the mouth cavity is left with smoke, black pepper, and ashy caramel.
Rating:
I keep having this battle with Bowmore. It’s such an established, classic Islay whisky. Many people love it. I want to love it. But, repeatedly, I just… ‘like’ it.
I feel as though it falls into a category of whiskies that I seem to come across more often these days, whiskies that are made by dedicated, talented people, who are committed to their craft, whiskies that are OK… but not great. Not special.
Now, I will say, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with this release. It’s got the spiciness from the bourbon casks and sweetness rounding off the Islay peat production. But, for me, it was just “meh.”
The cork topper says “unlock hidden depths”. Well, I tried, but they may be a bit too hidden for my palate. I’m giving the core range Bowmore 15 year old with a sherry cask finish a 6 finger pour.
Age Statement: NAS
ABV: 43 %
Chill-filtered: yes
E150a caramel coloring added: yes
Average Price (700ml): $120 (US)
