A rare 42-year-old single malt Scotch from the Islay distillery Bowmore has been released by specialist whisky company Duncan Taylor.
Part of the company’s Rarest Reserve portfolio, a collection of exclusive bottlings drawn from its most valuable and long-matured casks, the whisky was distilled in October 1982, and has spent over four decades maturing in a single ex-Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead cask.
Only a limited number of 100ml bottles are being made available, with the expression boasting a cask strength of 50.8% ABV.
Following the visual identity introduced in 2023 with Duncan Taylor’s 33- and 52-year-old Macallan bottlings, this bijou Bowmore is presented in an eye-catching gold-bar design.
The scaled-down format offers enthusiasts a unique opportunity to own an ultra-aged single malt at a fraction of the cost of a full-sized bottle.
Complex profile after four decades of maturation
Founded in 1938, Duncan Taylor is an independent whisky specialist with one of the largest privately held collections of vintage and rare casks in the world. Its portfolio includes Black Bull, The Octave, and The Rarest.
Islay whiskies often lean heavily into their smoky, maritime DNA, and Bowmore, Islay’s oldest working distillery, has long been a benchmark for elegance over excess. This Rarest Reserve release takes that legacy and filters it through a sherry-soaked lens
Matured in cask number 89633, a single PX sherry hogshead, the liquid has developed a deep, resinous gold colour, an immediate sign of the cask’s influence and the long, slow interaction between wood and spirit.
Tasting notes describe the nose as featuring ripe orchard fruits, floral notes from Islay’s coastal meadows, and hints of toffee and peat smoke. The palate delivers on the promise of the nose with smoke, milk chocolate, peanuts and a touch of ginger and cinnamon. The finish is described as long-lasting and smooth.
Islay whiskies often lean heavily into their smoky, maritime DNA, and Bowmore, Islay’s oldest working distillery…
This new Bowmore is among the oldest expressions the Huntly-based company has brought to market.
Duncan Taylor CEO Shawn Smith said of the introduction: “Following the success of the Macallan Rarest Reserve last year, we have plans to release a couple of our finest whiskies this year, starting with the Bowmore. Acolytes will love the premise of this collection as it gives them the opportunity to savour our rarer malts at a fraction of the price of a full bottle.”
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The Luxe Review 
A rare 42-year-old single malt Scotch from the Islay distillery Bowmore has been released by specialist whisky company Duncan Taylor.
Part of the company’s Rarest Reserve portfolio, a collection of exclusive bottlings drawn from its most valuable and long-matured casks, the whisky was distilled in October 1982, and has spent over four decades maturing in a single ex-Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead cask.
Only a limited number of 100ml bottles are being made available, with the expression boasting a cask strength of 50.8% ABV.
Following the visual identity introduced in 2023 with Duncan Taylor’s 33- and 52-year-old Macallan bottlings, this bijou Bowmore is presented in an eye-catching gold-bar design.
The scaled-down format offers enthusiasts a unique opportunity to own an ultra-aged single malt at a fraction of the cost of a full-sized bottle.
Complex profile after four decades of maturation
Founded in 1938, Duncan Taylor is an independent whisky specialist with one of the largest privately held collections of vintage and rare casks in the world. Its portfolio includes Black Bull, The Octave, and The Rarest.
Islay whiskies often lean heavily into their smoky, maritime DNA, and Bowmore, Islay’s oldest working distillery, has long been a benchmark for elegance over excess. This Rarest Reserve release takes that legacy and filters it through a sherry-soaked lens
Matured in cask number 89633, a single PX sherry hogshead, the liquid has developed a deep, resinous gold colour, an immediate sign of the cask’s influence and the long, slow interaction between wood and spirit.
Tasting notes describe the nose as featuring ripe orchard fruits, floral notes from Islay’s coastal meadows, and hints of toffee and peat smoke. The palate delivers on the promise of the nose with smoke, milk chocolate, peanuts and a touch of ginger and cinnamon. The finish is described as long-lasting and smooth.
This new Bowmore is among the oldest expressions the Huntly-based company has brought to market.
Duncan Taylor CEO Shawn Smith said of the introduction: “Following the success of the Macallan Rarest Reserve last year, we have plans to release a couple of our finest whiskies this year, starting with the Bowmore. Acolytes will love the premise of this collection as it gives them the opportunity to savour our rarer malts at a fraction of the price of a full bottle.”
The release is priced at £816 and is available through The Spirits Embassy.
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