Bowmore 2017/2026 Samhain Series Lady of the Glen 9 yr Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky 57%

Locals on Islay say Loch Indaal turns red at sunset. Some blame the light. Others remember Kranna Dubh, the sea-dragon that Fionn mac Cumhaill woke with a thrown stone and sent back to the deep with an enchanted sword. Here the legend is bottled, nine years after the spirit first went into the cask.

Expert's Description

Bowmore 9 Year Fionn Slays The Kranna Dubh is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a 1st fill bourbon cask and bottled at cask strength, 57%.

The spirit was distilled at Bowmore, the oldest working distillery on Islay, on 28 March 2017. Lady of the Glen bottled it on 29 July 2026, after nine years in one and the same cask, number 56. Only 268 bottles exist. The sea-dragon on the label is no coincidence either, since it has long featured on Bowmore's own bottles.

This release belongs to the Samhain Series, where Lady of the Glen pairs single casks with Scottish folklore. The series takes its name from the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marks the turn from harvest to winter. This year it runs to seven releases, and this is the only one from Bowmore. The story on the label follows Fionn and his two hounds, Bran and Seeolang, across Islay. To amuse them he hurls a huge standing stone into Loch Indaal, and the splash wakes a dragon that has slept beneath the dark sands for a thousand years.

A 1st fill bourbon cask gives a lot to a nine-year-old spirit. Here it shows up as milk chocolate and toffee, while sea salt and lemon make sure you never forget which island this comes from. Like every Lady of the Glen release, it is non-chill filtered and keeps its natural colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet and soft to begin with, then sea salt, lemon and a hint of sea spray. The sweetness stays in the background throughout.

Palate

Milk chocolate and toffee meet tobacco and a whisper of lightly smoked ham. Lemon peel and gingerbread build after a few seconds.

Finish

Long, with dark chocolate cherries and buttered malt loaf.

Specifications

Name: Bowmore 9 Year Fionn Slays The Kranna Dubh
Distillery: Bowmore
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 57%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 28 March 2017
Bottled: 29 July 2026
Number of bottles: 268
Edition: Samhain Series

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Maritime · Lightly smoked · Citrus · Chocolate

Did you know?

Lady of the Glen takes its name from the Green Lady said to haunt Stirling Castle. The Fife-based bottler was started in 2012 by Gregor Hannah.

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Frequently asked questions about Bowmore 9 Year Fionn Slays The Kranna Dubh

What does Bowmore 9 Year Fionn Slays The Kranna Dubh taste like?

Sweet and salty at the same time. Milk chocolate, toffee and tobacco lead the palate, with sea salt and lemon on the nose. The finish is long and heads toward dark chocolate cherries.

Is this whisky very smoky?

No, the smoke is restrained. It appears as a whisper of lightly smoked ham on the palate, while the maritime side counts for more than the peat.

What does Fionn Slays The Kranna Dubh mean?

It is the name of an Islay legend about the warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill and his fight with the sea-dragon Kranna Dubh at Loch Indaal. Fionn wounded the dragon with his enchanted sword, Mac a’Luin, and locals say the loch still glows red at sunset. The dragon also appears on Bowmore's own bottles.

How rare is this bottling?

Only 268 bottles exist, all from cask number 56. A single cask can never be repeated, because every cask matures its spirit in its own way. When the bottles are gone, they are gone.

What is the Samhain Series from Lady of the Glen?

It is a set of seven single cask bottlings, each with a piece of Scottish folklore on the label. The series is named after the Celtic festival of Samhain. Besides Bowmore, it includes Laphroaig, Highland Park and Glen Elgin.

Should Bowmore 9 Year be served with water or ice?

Try it neat first, then add a few drops of water. At 57% the water opens up the salty, citrusy notes without losing the sweetness from the bourbon cask. Ice dulls the flavour and is not a good idea here.

Which glass works best for a cask strength whisky?

A tulip-shaped glass such as a Glencairn gathers the aromas and makes it easier to find both the sweetness and the salt on the nose. See our range of whisky glasses.