The PR blurb goes as follows (scroll down for my review notes)… Bowmore, Islay’s first Single malt Whisky, has announced the launch of Bowmore 23 years Old – a deliciously rich, smoky  and complex dram that has been matured exclusively in port casks for 23 years giving it a deliciously dark colour and remarkably rich flavour.

This non-chill filtered Single Malt Scotch is a whisky to warm the coldest Islay night. A delicious treat of smoke infused blood orange, luscious layared autumn fruits, winter spices, black truffles and walnut oil balanced with the trademark Bowmore sea-salt tang.

European Brand ambassador Gordon Dundas describes the dram as “Truly an exceptional Bowmore. Full maturation in the finest Port casks is rare but gives this bottling an amaing depth and flavour developed over 23 years while importantly still retaining all of the character of Bowmore. Something to be savoured…” 

Less than 12,000 bottles exist of Bowmore 23 Year Old Port Matured, priced at £380.

Right on to my review \ notes…

Bowmore 23yo Port Matured – 50.8%

Colour: Dark copper, deep red tints.

Nose: Something fabulous here… Deep rich smokey fruit surrounded by quality oak wood notes in perfect balance with a gentle salty pinch along side of deep stewed fruits, plums and Seville oranges.

Palate: Full and rounded oily mouthfeel, smoke and Islay peat held in check at a very easy drinking level, a more earthy peat than sometimes found in this costally identifiable dram. Beautiful sumptuous fruity notes and enough oak to balance perfectly.

Finish: Mouth coating oils slowly reach your chest giving you a warming hug, leaving fruits and smoke all along the journey, and they sit there for a good long time. The official notes say ‘luscious layered autumn fruits and tingly winter spices’, bang on.

Thoughts: Wow. What a cracking example of whisky at it’s best, excellently crafted, cared for and presented, it doesn’t get much better than this. An honour to try, but sadly at the price (£380) is mostly unaffordable by us general folk, and will probably turn into an undrunk collectors item traded at auction (what a shame!). However, saying that, people will buy this, it’ll be sold out before you know it no doubt. I wish I had an open bottle (and the money to buy it!). 97.

Pretty much my ideal dram.
Thanks to Bowmore for the sample.