RARITY
UNVEILED! Bowmore 1957 the oldest Islay
single malt whisky ever released - to be
auctioned at Bonhams, reserve £100k
Bowmore have today announced the
forthcoming release of its oldest ever
expression this October; the
exceptionally rare Bowmore 1957 54
Years Old.
Not only is this the oldest
whisky the distillery has ever released,
it is also the oldest Islay Single Malt
ever released. Distilled in 1957 and
bottled in 2011, this marvel has been
lying in wait in the finest oak for over
half a century in Bowmore’s legendary
No. 1 Vaults, the oldest maturation
warehouse in Scotland.
With only 12 bottles in existence
worldwide, this is the rarest Bowmore
and will no doubt become one of the most
sought-after and collectible Single Malt
Scotch Whiskies in the world.
A collection of 1957 casks were bottled
in 1995 but one in particular was held
back from the outset as it was clear
that it was more special and exceptional
than the rest. Since 1995, the whisky in
that cask has been examined every six
months to check the quality, taste,
developments and changes; closely
watched to see how long the whisky could
mature without losing Bowmore’s
signature trait of a sweet/smoky
balance.
Bowmore 1957 (42.1% ABV) is a symphony
of aromas and flavours never before
experienced. After distillation, the new
spirit was placed into a second fill
sherry cask (where it spent 43 years)
and then in 2000 was moved into a second
fill bourbon cask.
Bottles No. 1 and No. 2 will be offered
at a public auction at esteemed
international auction house Bonhams in
Edinburgh on October 10th and in New
York City on October 28th with a minimum
reserve set at £100,000 per bottle
(approx. $155,000). All net proceeds
from both sales will be donated to five
Scottish charities.
Andrew Rankin, Morrison Bowmore’s Chief
Blender, comments: "Upon checking the
whisky in early 2011, we knew it had
reached perfection at 54 years of age.
Bowmore 1957 has withstood the test of
time astoundingly well and is nothing
short of brilliance in a glass."
The Auction
Widely considered as one of the
leading collectible Single Malts in the
world, the Bonhams’ auctions for the
Bowmore1957 are certain to quicken the
heartbeats of whisky collectors around
the world.
With bids accepted live in each location
as well as live internet bidding.
Enquiries regarding bidding can be
directed to
bids@bonhams.com.
The
minimum reserve set by Bonhams is
£100,000 per bottle, the highest reserve
ever set for a Single Malt Whisky. Says
Martin Green, Bonhams’ Whisky
Specialist, "We, at Bonhams, are very
excited to offer at auction the rarest
and oldest expression of Bowmore. This
iconic bottling, the most mature spirit
ever to come from Islay, has been
watched over for 54 years and is in
impeccable condition."
The
Charitable Donation
Morrison Bowmore Distillers,
producers of Bowmore, have chosen to
donate all the net proceeds of both
auctions to five Scottish charities that
encompass a variety of worthy causes:
ALZHEIMER SCOTLAND care for
people with dementia, their
caregivers and families)
THE
BEATSON ONCOLOGY CENTRE (care
for cancer patients receiving
treatment in the west of Scotland)
CHAS
(children’s hospice services)
ERSKINE (medical care for
Armed Forces).
MARIE
CURIE CANCER CARE (cancer
care and research).
Mike Keiller, Morrison Bowmore
Distillers Chief Executive Officer,
says: "The notion of having a cask from
1957 that can still produce something so
glorious shows the acute attention to
detail and care that we pride ourselves
on at Morrison Bowmore. The fact that we
can take some of the precious cargo from
this cask to help the lives of so many
across many different communities
through our charitable contribution, we
thought we should help Scottish
charities with this rare piece of Scotch
whisky history."
The Unique
Presentation
No attention to detail has been missed
in making this precious spirit, and the
same hand-crafted thoughtfulness has
been applied to the vessel and
presentation box that carries the
Bowmore 1957. Each of the 12 bottles has
been hand-blown and sculpted by two of
the world’s foremost glass artists
Brodie Nairn and Nichola Burns, into the
shape of waves reminiscent of those that
constantly crash against the No. 1
Vaults’ sea-facing walls, whilst the
glass is inlaid with shimmering flecks
of platinum.
Adorning each bottle is a platinum neck
collar, hand-engraved with the bottle
number and spirit strength, and platinum
stopper hand-crafted by Hamilton &
Inches, Warrant Holder to the Queen. The
bottle and accompanying glasses and
water pitcher, also hand-blown by Nairn
and Burns, are nestled in a presentation
box created by acclaimed woodworker
Peter Toaig, using hand-selected pieces
of Scottish Oak. View artisans’ videos
here:
Only 12 bottles of the rarest Bowmore
1957 have been created. Two of these
will be auctioned, two have been
retained for the Morrison Bowmore
archives and the remaining eight will be
available for purchase by the public
solely at the Bowmore Distillery on
Islay. The retail price for Bowmore 1957
will be £100,000 (approx. $155,000).
Islay is the whisky-making mecca for
many aficionados and those people who
make the special journey to purchase
Bowmore 1957 will be captivated by this
magical island’s craggy coasts,
windswept moors and friendly
inhabitants.
Bowmore 1957 54 Year Old Tasting Notes
Bowmore 1957 (42.1% ABV) is a symphony
of aromas and flavours never before
experienced. After distillation, the new
spirit was placed into a second fill
sherry cask (where it spent 43 years)
and then in 2000 was moved into a second
fill bourbon cask.
Producer's Tasting Notes:
Nose: At first breath, an elixir of blueberries and wild figs
with mellow almonds, tropical fruit and
rich oaky overtones hits the nose.
Taste:
The palate reveals layer upon layer of
sweet and refined ocean tastes with soft
blueberries, cassis and figs, sea salt
and fresh eucalyptus. Next, a wisp of
teasing smoke and traces of dark
chocolate fuse with notes of grapefruit
and juicy oak, carried along by a
warming marine breeze.
Finish:
This sensory journey ends with a long
and whispering finish of cassis,
bergamot and star anise.
Where To Buy Bowmore Whisky Online
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