The Rise of the Black Bowmore

The Black Bowmore 1964 is an iconic spirit, over the years there have been a number of different releases of this highly drinkable, and collectable liquid.

The First Edition was released in 1993, limited to 2,000 bottles this magnificent spirit was retailed through Oddbins for a mere £75. The second and third releases were bottled in 1994 and 1995 respectively. The third edition was titled the ‘Final Edition’, which turned out not to be quite accurate.

The Bowmore Trilogy was released with the Black, Gold and White Bowmore, each of which were still of the 1964 vintage, but matured in different cask types. The Black Bowmore, bottled 2007, remained in the rich first fill sherry cask for 42 years, the White Bowmore was bottled a year later after a bourbon maturation lasting 43 years, and finally the Gold was bottled in 2009 after 44 years in a combination of bourbon and sherry.

Many thought that would be the last we would hear of the Black Bowmore series, but alas in 2016 it was revealed that 159 bottles of the Black Bowmore 50 years old would be bottled with only 10 destined for the UK market.

More recently there has been the rebottling of the 1995 ‘Final Edition’ brought about due to a partnership with Bowmore and Aston Martin. Each bottle is one of only 27, and incorporates a genuine Aston Martin piston.

Lot 40 in the September 10 Rare & Fine Whisky Auction is one of the original 1993 first edition bottlings. The vender of this bottle acquired it through a McTear’s auction in the early 2000s for little more than £1,000. In the upcoming auction it is expected to achieve a hammer total of in the region of £12,000-£15,000. This bottle is a fantastic demonstration of how the whisky market has changed over the past 3 decades.

 

Click here to view the full auction catalogue.>>

Graeme Maxwell

 

Advice on selling whisky is free and without obligation. The next Whisky Auction will take place on 22 October and entries are now invited. To consign to this auction, make an appointment to visit our Glasgow Galleries or contact our specialists by clicking this link and completing the short form. 

 

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