Bowmore 1963 Anniversary 30 Years Old 50% 1963

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (94)

Colour: gold.

Nose: ha-ha, there’s no fruity explosion at all (we’re not in 1968), rather some huge medicinal notes combined with wood and coal ashes. There’s quite some camphor, whiffs of crushed eucalyptus leaves, mentholated cigarettes (remember Kool?) and, once again, quite some fresh walnuts. Are fresh walnuts the missing link between antique and new-style Bowmores? With water: more tropical fruits and more manure. It became even ‘wider’. Fab!

Mouth (neat): fantastically medicinal, with something that really reminds me of the stupendous old pear-shaped 8yo (the bottle was pear-shaped, not the whisky). Cough drops, oysters, tangerine zests, walnuts (yes), almonds, salt, liquorice, mint, kippers… And loads and loads of other flavours. Sorry, the anti-maltoporn brigade is here, let’s stop it. It doesn’t need water on the palate anyway.

Finish: magnificently medicinal and resinous.

Comments: probably the most medicinal old Bowmore I could try. A work of art.