Bowmore 1957 - Islay Single Malt 38 year old Whisky distilled 1957 bottled 1995 40,1% alc by vol. 75cl bt N°458 of 861 with wooden Case

The Bowmore 1957 is an exceptional 38-year-old Islay single malt, distilled on 14 January 1957 and bottled in 1995 with an alcohol content of 40.1 per cent by volume in 75 cl bottles. This is an original distillery bottling, created from a blend of five casks numbered 216 to 220 and was limited to just 861 bottles worldwide. The whisky dates back to the so-called ‘Pre-Morrison’s’ era, before the distillery was taken over by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, and matured for almost four decades in the legendary ‘No. 1 Vaults’, Scotland’s oldest maturation cellars, which are the only ones situated below sea level. This unique microclimate resulted in an extremely low rate of evaporation; however, the bottling in 1995 was characterised by a particular urgency, as the alcohol content had fallen to just 40.1 per cent – barely above the statutory minimum of 40 per cent required for the designation ‘Scotch Whisky’. Had they waited any longer to bottle it, the whisky would have lost this status. The limited edition was presented in a handcrafted oak presentation box by Charles Kirkby & Sons and is neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

On tasting, the Bowmore 1957 presents a deep amber-gold colour with bronze and mahogany undertones. The nose reveals a complex bouquet of coastal peat and sea salt smoke, paired with iodine and brine, followed by honey-sweet oak notes, caramel and citrus. Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun described it as seemingly endless, with aromas of passion fruit, beeswax, sea air, flowers, propolis, tar, shoe polish, apricot jam, ripe mirabelle plums, pineapple liqueur, dried figs and even resinous notes such as old turpentine. On the palate, it opens with a robust, slightly tannic attack that quickly evolves into wax, eucalyptus and old book leather, accompanied by a creamy texture and aromas of exotic fruits such as mango, pineapple and ripe banana, complemented by peach, vanilla and subtle spices. The finish is long and maritime, characterised by sea salt smoke and refined peat, rounded off by a sweetness influenced by the sherry casks with notes of dried fruit, dark chocolate and warm oak and spice.

The exceptional quality of this bottling is underpinned by outstanding ratings: Serge Valentin awarded 93 points, whilst the average on Whiskybase stands at 94.00 points and BOW even awarded 95 points. The consistently high ratings particularly highlight the exceptional complexity of the nose. In summary, it can be said that the Bowmore 1957 38 Year Old is a legendary Islay single malt and a milestone for the distillery. Its fascinating history – distilled in the pre-war era, matured in the unique No. 1 Vaults and literally saved at the last minute from falling below the minimum alcohol limit – makes it a coveted collector’s item. With just 861 bottles worldwide and top ratings of around 94 points, it ranks among the distillery’s most sought-after bottlings, whose exceptional balance of peaty maritime notes, exotic fruitiness and decades of oak maturation delights connoisseurs and collectors alike.