🥃 Bowmore 18 Year Old
Permanent 18-year-old Bowmore expression: an Islay single malt at 43% ABV per Difford's Guide; bourbon and sherry casks.
Bowmore 18 Year Old is the 18-year-old expression of the Bowmore single malt Scotch whisky from the island of Islay. According to Difford's Guide, its strength is 43% ABV, and the expression appeared on the market in January 2007 in place of the 17-year-old. It sits in the brand's permanent range between the 15- and 25-year-old whiskies.
According to the brand, it is matured in American oak casks that held bourbon and European oak casks that held oloroso sherry. The brand describes the colour as a soft mahogany and the aroma as caramel, toffee, nectarine and a light smoke. The finish is spicy, with a woody note.
Why it matters to you. Among the permanent 18-year-old expressions, this one has a deep oak character before the 25-year-old. Compare it with the 12- and 15-year-old: the smoke is more restrained here, with more sweetness and spice. Check the age and strength on the bottle, as batches may differ, and do not mix up data from different releases. WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 43% ABV (per Difford's Guide) |
|---|---|
| Cask type | American oak ex-bourbon and European oak ex-oloroso sherry |
| Minimum maturation | 18 years |
| EU category | Whisky; Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) |
| Raw material | malted barley |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Bowmore 18 Year Old → affects → 🍷 Alcohol and health ← affects ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- What it contains
- 🍷 Sherry
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Bowmore, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Related to
- 🥃 Islay whisky
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Bowmore 18 replaced a 17-year-old expression?
Yes. According to Difford's Guide, the 18-year-old appeared in January 2007 in place of the 17-year-old.
What is the strength of Bowmore 18 Year Old?
According to Difford's Guide, 43% ABV.
Which casks are used for Bowmore 18?
According to the brand, American oak ex-bourbon and European oak ex-oloroso sherry.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🥃 Islay whisky — Protected locality of Scotch whisky: the name Islay may appear only on Scotch distilled on the island of Islay, which has 10 distilleries.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Bowmore 12 Year Old · 🥃 Bowmore 15 Year Old · 🥃 Bowmore 25 Year Old · 🥃 Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old · 🥃 Dalmore 12 Year Old · 🥃 Dalmore 15 Year Old
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Bowmore (official site): 18-Year Old (ex-Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks; Islay single malt)
- Difford's Guide: Bowmore 18 Year Old Islay single malt (43 % ABV; launched January 2007)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: Single Malt Scotch Whisky (oak casks up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)