Bowmore 22 Year Old The Changeling Limited Release

Islay's oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1995. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year prior (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements.

The Changeling comprises of two Single Malt Whiskies, aged 22 and 33 years, designed by Quitely and Bowmore’s master blender Ron Welsh. It is the second release in the Frank Quitely collection, which aim to capture the myths and legends of Bowmore’s island home of Islay. The series is inspired by the folkloric story of a blacksmith who rescued his son from Islay’s ‘Fairy Folk’ after they kidnapped the boy and replaced him with a changeling.
The Changeling 22 Years Old was first matured in American oak hogsheads before a finishing of around two years in white port casks.

    Nose:    More punchy than expected. Charcoal, campfire, salty, maritime, soapy, a bit floral, sweet floral type of perfume, cherry, white oak, medicinal.

    Taste:    Smooth. Some gentle soap, burning wood, moderate peat, oaky notes, a bit bitter, white wine, low level of tannin, hints of tropical fruits, citrus.

    Finish:    Medium-long. Lavender, maritime, burning candle, liquorice, mint, lime, oak cask, bitter.