Description

Bowmore 1997 Aged 25 Years Cask 2689 Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Infrequent Flyers Release #100 (700ml)

Volume: 700ml           ABV: 47.1%           Age: 25 Years            Country: Scotland

Cask Number: 2689
Date of Distilling: 1997
Matured In: A Single Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry Hogshead
Un-Chillfiltered

Located in the town of Bowmore, on the shore of Loch Indaal on the island of Islay, one of Scotland’s famous whisky islands. It’s the oldest licensed distillery on Islay. Bowmore was founded in 1779, making it one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. It has a long and storied history, including being owned by the Mutter family (German distillers) for a period, and notably being commandeered by RAF Coastal Command during World War II. In 1963, it was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison, beginning a golden age of highly prized bottlings. Today, it is owned by Beam Suntory (part of Suntory Holdings, a Japanese multinational). Bowmore is known for producing a medium-peated Islay single malt that also carries a distinctive maritime, floral, and fruity character. Unusually for an Islay distillery of its size, Bowmore retains traditional floor maltings, producing about 25-40% of its own peated malt. This allows them precise control over the peat levels. Its famous No. 1 Vaults warehouse is situated directly on the edge of Loch Indaal, below sea level. This unique environment is believed to impart a distinct maritime and salty influence on the maturing whisky as the casks “breathe” the sea air. Bowmore’s whiskies typically balance medium peat smoke with citrus, tropical fruit, and sometimes floral or violet notes, along with a distinct coastal salinity. The interplay between bourbon and sherry cask maturation is also key to its core range.

Alistair Walker is a highly respected figure in the Scotch whisky industry, boasting over two decades of extensive experience. He held significant roles at prominent distilleries like BenRiach, GlenDronach, and Glenglassaugh, providing him with a profound, hands-on understanding of whisky production, maturation processes, and cask management. He established his own independent bottling company, the Alistair Walker Whisky Company, in 2018. This is his flagship brand, launched in July 2019. The name “Infrequent Flyers” cleverly reflects his bottling philosophy: he actively seeks out and bottles whiskies from a diverse range of distilleries, often those whose single malt expressions are less commonly encountered on the market, or those that offer a particularly unique and distinctive character from an individual cask. This highlights the rarity and the specific, often surprising, nature of each release. Alistair is deeply committed to presenting whiskies in their most authentic and unadulterated form. His releases consistently adhere to these principles, single sask bottlings, un-chill filtered, natural colour and cask strength

This is an Islay single malt Scotch whisky, distilled at Bowmore in 1997 and matured for an impressive 25 years. It was bottled from cask #82689, which was a Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry Hogshead. PX sherry casks are known for imparting intense sweetness, dark fruit, and sometimes chocolatey notes, which will interact fascinatingly with Bowmore’s signature peaty, coastal spirit. It was bottled at a very respectable cask strength of 47.1% alc/vol and was a limited release of 299 bottles.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose:  Luxurious and complex. Expect sweet peat smoke mingling with barbecued tropical fruits and berry jams. There are notes of dark cherries, toffee, coastal sea air, and sometimes dark chocolate or espresso. It avoids the “soapy” or “floral” notes some modern Bowmores can exhibit, focusing instead on a more robust, savoury peat with sweet fruit.

Palate: Sweet, oily, and syrupy, coating the mouth wonderfully. The excellent combination of peated, phenolic spirit and PX sherry creates a profile of sweet BBQ flavours, contrasted and combined with big, tangy fruity notes like blood orange, plums, and cranberries. Deeper notes of caramelised muscovado sugars, coconut, and marzipan can also be found. The peat is prevalent but beautifully balanced.

Finish: Long and satisfying, with lingering sweet peat, dark fruit, and perhaps a touch of ginger or herbs. The complexity continues to unfold as it fades.

This particular bottling seems to have struck a fantastic balance, showcasing the best of both the classic Bowmore spirit and the enriching influence of a long maturation in an active PX sherry cask. A truly exceptional and rare offering. It showcases Bowmore’s legendary Islay character at a significant age, beautifully integrated with the richness of a PX sherry cask, all presented in its purest form by a reputable independent bottler. This is a must-try for fans of well-aged, peated, and sherried whiskies.