Beam Suntory backs age with new Bowmores

by Kristiane Sherry

Beam Suntory GTR is to launch a new Bowmore travel retail range in April 2017, the brand's first age statement releases in the channel for five years.

Inspired by the Islay distillery’s No.1 Vaults maturation warehouse, said to be the oldest of its kind in Scotland, the new range incudes 10-, 15- and 18-year-old variants. Bowmore 10 Year Old: Dark and Intense is the result of marrying liquid from Spanish oak ex-Sherry casks with hogsheads. The whisky is dark amber in colour with given aroma and tasting notes of sun-dried fruit, toasted maple, sultanas, sea salt, dark fruit oils and a peat-smoked walnut finish. Bowmore 15 Year Old: Golden and Elegant was matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks for an “inspired and uplifting” character. According to the brand, the golden barley-coloured expression offers a silken peat-smoked character with notes of citrus. The final malt in the range, Bowmore 18 Year Old: Deep and Complex has been matured in both oloroso and pedro ximénez Sherry casks. The release is said to offer a rich chocolate flavour with aroma and tasting notes of treacle, coffee, dates, orange peel and macadamia nuts. “We continue to innovate and find new ways to delight our consumers in travel retail via exceptional product quality and investment in our liquids, said Michael Cockram, global marketing director, Beam Suntory GTR. “We are pleased to present this exceptional new Bowmore range exclusively to travel retail. Matured in the finest oak casks, these age statement whiskies have been selected for their unique character, allowing us to bring Bowmore’s legendary No.1 Vaults to life for the discerning traveller around the world.” Bowmore 10 Year Old is bottled at 40% and is available in a 1-litre format, Bowmore 15 Year Old is available in a 1-litre bottle at 43% abv, and Bowmore 18 Year Old is presented in a 70cl bottle at 43% abv. Pricing details have not yet been disclosed. Beam Suntory GTR launched a duo of travel retail exclusive Laphroaigs last week, upping its peaty portfolio in the channel.