Bowmore 2015 Little Brown Dog 11 year old Refill Bourbon Barrel Single Islay Malt Whisky 58,3%

A warehouse in Aberdeenshire, rows of quiet oak casks — and then one barrel that refused to blend in. When Little Brown Dog worked their way through a parcel of 2015 Bowmore, this was the cask that stopped them in their tracks. It didn't smell like the rest. It didn't taste anything like the rest. So they sketched a rough chicken on the side of it, just so they'd never lose track of which one it was.

Expert's Description

Bowmore 11 Year Old Little Brown Dog Refill Bourbon Barrel is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a Refill Bourbon Barrel and bottled at 58.3%. The whisky was distilled at Bowmore on 23 February 2015 and bottled by independent bottler Little Brown Dog in May 2026, after 11 years of maturation. Only 272 bottles exist of this release.

This whisky was originally meant to disappear into a larger parcel – Bowmore typically vats several casks together before filling new ones. But when Little Brown Dog's Andrew and Chris tasted their way through the samples in the warehouse, this one cask stood out sharply from the rest. It carried more peat than Bowmore usually gives, and a striking, almost salty finish that made them sketch a rather amateur chicken on the side of the cask so they wouldn't mistake it for anything else. Rather than pouring it back into the parcel, they chose to bottle it on its own – which also explains why the label leans into a crisp-packet theme.

The whisky is bottled without added colour and without chill filtration, straight from the cask at natural cask strength. The barrel it matured in had already been used once before, which means it doesn't sit heavily on top of the spirit – instead it lets Bowmore's own character, the soft smoke and the fruity sweetness, come through clearly.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft peat smoke settles under ripe nectarine and a touch of honey, while a hint of smouldering birch and toasted bread add depth.

Palate

The texture is creamy and full, with stewed peaches, sweet malt and a light honeyed sweetness that slowly turns towards something saltier and more savoury.

Finish

Long and unexpected – soft Islay peat mixed with ripe orchard fruit, ending in an unmistakably salty, snack-like savoury note that mostly resembles roast chicken crisps.

Specifications

Name: Bowmore 11 Year Old Little Brown Dog Refill Bourbon Barrel
Distillery: Bowmore
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 58.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Refill Bourbon Barrel
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Distilled: 23 February 2015
Bottled: May 2026
Number of Bottles: 272

Flavour Profile

Peated · Fruity · Creamy · Maritime · Sweet

Did You Know?

The name Little Brown Dog comes from founder Andrew Smith's own dog, who followed him on distillery visits for years and gave the company both its name and its logo. The dog, known as "the little brown dog", passed away in 2022 at the age of 15, but lives on in the dog silhouettes printed all the way around the bottle.

See our full range of Bowmore

See our full range of Little Brown Dog

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently Asked Questions about Bowmore 11 Year Old Little Brown Dog Refill Bourbon Barrel

What makes this Bowmore from Little Brown Dog special?

It's the unusual, almost salty finish that sets it apart – a character so distinct from the rest of the parcel that Little Brown Dog chose to bottle the cask on its own rather than blend it into a larger batch. The combination of soft Islay smoke, ripe fruit and an unexpected savoury finish isn't found in any other Bowmore release.

Should it be served with ice or neat?

Neat, or with a few drops of water, works best. At 58.3%, a little water can open up the fruit and smoke, while ice will dull both the sweetness and the distinctive finish that makes this particular bottle so interesting.

Which glass suits Bowmore 11 Year Old Little Brown Dog best?

A tulip-shaped glass such as a Glencairn glass gathers the aromas best and makes it easier to pick up both the fruit and the salty finish. See our range of whisky glasses.

Why is this whisky bottled as a single cask when it was originally part of a larger parcel?

Because the cask simply tasted too different to be blended into the rest. Bowmore usually vats several casks together before filling new ones, but when Little Brown Dog tasted their way through the warehouse, this one cask stood out so clearly that they chose to bottle it alone rather than let its character disappear into a bigger batch.

Who is Little Brown Dog?

Little Brown Dog is an independent bottler and micro-distillery from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, founded in 2018 by Andrew Smith and Chris Reid. They pick single casks by flavour rather than by distillery name and reputation, and the labels rarely take themselves too seriously.

What sets Bowmore's style apart from other Islay whiskies?

Bowmore takes a softer, more elegant approach to Islay peat than neighbours like Laphroaig and Ardbeg. The distillery sits on the shore of Loch Indaal and still uses its own floor maltings for part of its barley, giving a whisky where fruit and sweetness get to stand out just as clearly as the peat.