Bowmore 1989/2010 A D Rattray 21 year old Single Cask Islay Malt Whisky 52,2%

Bowmore Cask Collection 1989 · Individual Cask Bottling · Sherry Cask · Cask #1099 · 70CL · 52.2%

There are whiskies you open for a special occasion. And then there are whiskies that are the occasion. A 21-year-old Bowmore from 1989, drawn directly from a single sherry cask — only 240 bottles, exclusively for the Danish market — falls unambiguously into the second category.

Bowmore is Islay's oldest licensed distillery, founded in 1779 on the shores of Loch Indaal. The distillery sits literally on the edge of the sea, and you can tell — the salty, maritime air is part of the maturation process, not just a tourism tagline. The whisky matures in the iconic No. 1 Vaults warehouse, which sits partially below sea level. That's the kind of detail that actually makes a difference.

This is an individual cask bottling — one cask, one whisky, no blending. Cask number 1099, a sherry cask, received its new make spirit on 18 February 1989 and was bottled exactly 21 years later, on 18 February 2010. That symmetry is rarely seen and almost a little moving. The whisky is bottled non-chill filtered at natural cask strength of 52.2% and is — as stated on the label — specially selected and bottled for the Danish market. 240 bottles in total. No more.

The sherry cask has given this Bowmore a dark, warm character that balances the distillery's signature lightly peated and maritime profile with a deep, heavy fruitiness from years of contact with sherry-seasoned oak. It's the classic Islay-meets-sherry combination, and when it works — and it does here — there's not much that beats it.

Nose: Dark fruit upfront — preserved fruits, dried plums, figs. Behind it, a hint of Bowmore's characteristic coastal air and gentle smoke that never overwhelms but is always present. Suggestions of wax, leather and a light medicinal note — typical of the 1989 vintage from Islay.

Palate: Full-bodied and oily mouthfeel. The sherry sweetness is present but not cloying — raisins, dark chocolate, orange peel. The smoke arrives in a second wave, earthy and dry. Spices in the background: ginger, a touch of pepper.

Finish: Long and warm. The smoky, maritime character carries through and lingers. A little bitter oak right at the very end. Excellent length.

Smoky · Sherried · Fruity · Waxy · Maritime · Spicy · Oaky

Name: Bowmore Cask Collection 1989 Individual Cask Bottling
Distillery: Bowmore Distillery
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 52.2%
Size: 70CL
Cask Type: Sherry Cask
Cask Number: 1099
Distilled: 18 February 1989
Bottled: 18 February 2010
Age: 21 years
Number of bottles: 240
Edition: Individual Cask Bottling — selected for the Danish market
Filtration: Non-chill filtered, natural cask strength
"Specially selected and bottled in Scotland for the Danish market"

Investment potential: High. Only 240 bottles exist, and they are now 15+ years old. 21-year-old single cask Bowmore bottlings from the 1989 vintage — and the sherry expressions in particular — are sought after on the collector's market.

Did you know? Bowmore's No. 1 Vaults is one of the only active warehouses in Scotland that actually sits partially below sea level. The temperature is stable, humidity high and sea air ever-present — factors that over 21 years have undoubtedly left their mark on what came out of cask number 1099.

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 A. Dewar Rattray Tim Morrison is one of Islay's whisky dinosaurs. He bought Dewar Rattray, a very high quality independent whisky bottler, in 2004. But Tim is probably best known for his family's former ownership of Morrison Bowmore at Islay. Tim's father, Stanley P. Morrison, bought Bowmore in 1963 for £117,000 - in 1994 the family sold the company to Japanese giant, Suntory, for a very different amount... Today, Tim Morrison is an elderly gentleman, and especially thanks to the above sale, he no longer has to work for a living - everything is now done for pleasure! Tim Morrison bought Dewar Rattray for two reasons. Firstly, he was a fourth-generation descendant of Andrew Dewar, one of the two founders of the company in 1868. Secondly, in 1989-1991, knowing the family would sell Bowmore to Suntory, he bought a very large number of casks from various distilleries to bottle and sell under the Dewar Rattray name. The casks are still the cornerstone of the current business. Tim Morrison bought from a total of 12 different distilleries, and these are now supplemented by casks he buys from brokers or distilleries. How many of the original casks remain is a trade secret - but what is certain is that there will continue to be a base for producing the very personal, often slightly smoky whiskies that Dewar Rattray has become so famous for around the world. Since our company was founded in 1868, we have aimed to delight the whisky enthusiast. Today our principal activity is the selection, storage and bottling of exceptional malt whiskies. The A D Rattray Ltd whiskies which form our Cask Collection portfolio are sourced from distilleries throughout Scotland. This extensive range of whiskies is bottled at natural strength and colour without any unnecessary chill-filtration. All of the flavour from the cask... ...in a bottle Founded by Andrew Dewar and William Rattray in 1868, A D Rattray began trading as an importer of French wines, Italian spirits and olive oil. More importantly, however, the company also established itself as a specialist in the field of blending and storage of malt and grain whiskies. In the latter part of the 1800s A D Rattray Ltd came to represent a number of well-known Highland Malt distilleries - most notably Stronachie* - selling bulk whisky to West of Scotland wine and spirit merchants, publicans and the main Scotch whisky blending houses in and around Glasgow. Like many other merchants, A D Rattray Ltd suffered during the crisis of the early 1900s and in the late 1920s the partners sold the business to William Walker. Well-established as a whisky broker, Walker set about expanding the business with the acquisition of a number of smaller merchants. Despite rationing during the 2nd World War, the company continued to supply the West of Scotland licensed trade until Walker's death. A D Rattray Ltd has returned to the family and is owned by Mr Tim Morrison, previously of Morrison Bowmore Distillers and fourth generation descendent of Andrew Dewar. A D Rattray Ltd's resurgence stems back to early 2004 when, using his extensive knowledge and expertise in the whisky industry, Mr Morrison bottled a selection of his own handpicked stock of whiskies for market release. Today the company's principal purpose is to bottle unusual and exclusive casks of Scotch Whisky, with each one chosen to reflect the different styles of the six individual whisky regions of Scotland. Whether from Mr Morrison's own stock or independently sourced, only casks which are found to be of exceptional quality are bottled under the A D Rattray Cask Collection label and released into selected markets.