|
Bowmore
unveils two new travel retail exclusive
limited edition whiskies, Bowmore Lovers
Transformed 23 Year Old and 36 Year Old.
For more than 240 years, Bowmore has
been capturing the essence of Islay, the
picturesque home of the Bowmore
Distillery. This remote Scottish island
is steeped in history, brimming with
myth and legend. In a tribute to these
captivating tales, Bowmore Islay Single
Malt Scotch Whisky proudly presents the
third instalment of its acclaimed
collaboration with the graphic artist
and illustrator, Frank Quitely. This
extraordinary release, named 'Lovers
Transformed,' comprises two exclusive
collectible single malts: a Bowmore 23
Year Old and a Bowmore 36 Year Old.
These remarkable whiskies will make
their debut in select travel retail
locations worldwide, starting from
September 11th.
Like their predecessors, 'No Corners to
Hide' and 'The Changeling,' the Lovers
Transformed whiskies draw inspiration
from Islay's folklore. Both expressions
showcase exclusive designs by Quitely,
renowned for his illustrations in Marvel
and DC Comics. These designs visually
reinterpret the classic tale, unveiling
two multi-dimensional whiskies that
bring the legend to life in a sensory
experience.
Quitely's illustrations and artwork
vividly depict the rich and evocative
history of Islay while embodying
Bowmore's artistic style. They perfectly
encapsulate the narrative of Lovers
Transformed, making these editions
highly sought-after collector's items.
The Lovers Transformed Whiskies:
Both expressions in this collection stay
true to Bowmore's acclaimed signature
house style. They feature carefully
selected elements and finishing that
resonate with the mythical narrative,
showcasing Bowmore's Islay heritage. At
every level, this is a tale of artistry,
depth, and complexity, flowing
seamlessly from the waters of Islay to
the creation of these exceptional
whiskies.
Bowmore
The Lovers Transformed 23 Year Old
(50.9% ABV) is said to be an outstanding single
malt, matured in refill Pedro Ximenez
and Oloroso Sherry seasoned European Oak
casks. There will be a limited release
of 8,000 bottles.
On the nose, the whisky greets you with
the distinctive freshness of Atlantic
Ocean sea salt, evolving into richer
notes of toffee, salted caramel, tanned
leather, honeycomb, stewed apples,
rhubarb, and ground ginger. Hints of
rose petals and parma violets linger in
the background.
On the palate, the liquid offers a
symphony of sweet, peaty notes
reminiscent of golden maple syrup,
demerara sugar, cocoa beans, dark
chocolate, and liquorice root, with a
subtle hazelnut undertone and tannic
echoes. The finish is a tapestry of
richness and earthiness, leaving a
lingering honeyed sweetness.
Bowmore
The Lovers Transformed 36 Year Old
(45.2% ABV) represents the pinnacle of
the Frank Quitely collaboration, with
only 700 bottles available.
This rare Bowmore single malt finds its
finishing touch in first-fill Pinot Noir
wine barriques. On the nose, this deep
amber whisky combines notes of crisp
green apple, violet, and fresh
pineapple, leading to herbal scents of
sage and thyme, plum, dried cloves, and
apricots. This aromatic journey is
balanced by sweet, spicy cinnamon and
fudge.
On the palate, the whisky opens with an
oily and earthy texture, revealing notes
of sweet vanilla, juicy blackcurrants,
and lemon, with a subtle undercurrent of
sea salt, white pepper, liquorice root,
and oak. The long, rich, and smooth
finish is enhanced with nuances of
orange, spice, and a gentle hint of peat
smoke.
The Bowmore Lovers Transformed 23 Year
Old has a suggested retail price of
US$470, while the Bowmore Lovers
Transformed 36 Year Old is priced at
US$4,000. They are both limited-edition
travel retail exclusive rleleases and
will be available in China, Finland,
France, Germany, Hong Kong, Macau, MEA,
Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan,
Thailand, the UK and the US
If you have no plans to travel in the
near future you will find the current
Bowmore domestic whisky range available from specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
|
For those of you interested in the story
that inspired this release then here it
is:
Lovers Transformed draws its inspiration
from an age-old tale, recounting the
story of the daughter of an Eastern
Pictish King who found love with a
Celtic warrior from the Western lands.
In their fervent desire to be together,
this star-crossed pair embarked on a
perilous journey, setting sail from the
Scottish mainland to the warrior's
homeland on the enchanting Isle of
Islay.
Their voyage took a fateful turn as a
tempestuous storm engulfed their vessel,
sending it to the depths of the sea.
Bound tightly to each other, the young
lovers met their watery fate,
disappearing into the depths of the
ocean's embrace. As the eerie silence of
the following day settled upon Islay,
the shattered remnants of their vessel
were discovered strewn along the
island's rugged coastline. Yet, no trace
remained of the lovers, except for a
pair of white gulls soaring high above,
refusing to settle either to the East or
the West, as if torn between two worlds.
Even today, on the Isle of Islay,
whenever two gulls grace the empty sky
with their presence, glasses are raised
in solemn tribute to the enduring legend
of the Lovers Transformed.
"To continue to tell these incredible
stories through such awe-inspiring and
special whiskies is hugely rewarding for
me,” noted Quitely. “The whiskies
themselves are truly captivating, so it
is vital for me to ensure I bring them
and the incredible mythical tales to
life in an equally captivating way in my
work.
"When I first heard this story, I was
extremely drawn to it and right from the
get-go I could imagine the illustration
of their final moments together –
embracing beneath the surface, like a
quiet underwater ballet, whilst a crack
of lightning appeared overhead. A truly
mesmerising tale of love and commitment,
much like the craftmanship that goes
into these beautiful whiskies."
Beam Suntory Brand Marketing Director
Global Travel Retail Manuel Gonzalez
commented: "We are thrilled to unveil
the third release of our collaboration
with graphist artist and illustrator
Frank Quitely, and explore another
captivating Islay myth.
"These two very special collectible
whiskies showcase our commitment to
creating sought-after exclusives, and
demonstrate how we are harnessing
exceptional story-telling to build our
brand presence, and provide compelling
propositions for our discerning
travelling consumers. We are confident
that Lovers Transformed will be yet
another sell-out success."
|
