Bowmore De Luxe / Bot.1970s Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Tomas Rivera — Smooth and complex

8/10

Tried a dram at a whisky bar and was impressed by how smooth it is. For an Islay it's remarkably approachable — the peat is more like a background hum than a shout. Got notes of vanilla, ripe stone fruit, and a wisp of smoke on the finish. The 40% keeps everything balanced and easy-drinking.

Suki Patel — Smooth and complex

8/10

Tried a dram at a whisky bar and was impressed by how smooth it is. For an Islay it's remarkably approachable — the peat is more like a background hum than a shout. Got notes of vanilla, ripe stone fruit, and a wisp of smoke on the finish. The 40% keeps everything balanced and easy-drinking.

Andre Dubois — Smooth and complex

8/10

Tried a dram at a whisky bar and was impressed by how smooth it is. For an Islay it's remarkably approachable — the peat is more like a background hum than a shout. Got notes of vanilla, ripe stone fruit, and a wisp of smoke on the finish. The 40% keeps everything balanced and easy-drinking.

Luciano Bianchi — A proper time capsule

9/10

Got to try this at a friend's tasting night and it absolutely floored me. The peat is there but it's softened with decades of age into something smoky and almost sweet, like smoked honey. At £950 it's not an everyday bottle but for a 1970s Bowmore it's actually not crazy money.

Farah Abboud — A proper time capsule

9/10

Got to try this at a friend's tasting night and it absolutely floored me. The peat is there but it's softened with decades of age into something smoky and almost sweet, like smoked honey. At £950 it's not an everyday bottle but for a 1970s Bowmore it's actually not crazy money.

Jake Morrison — A proper time capsule

9/10

Got to try this at a friend's tasting night and it absolutely floored me. The peat is there but it's softened with decades of age into something smoky and almost sweet, like smoked honey. At £950 it's not an everyday bottle but for a 1970s Bowmore it's actually not crazy money.

Ingrid Holm — The old Bowmore magic

9/10

Managed to find one of these at auction last year and I don't regret it one bit. There's this incredible combination of dark chocolate, gentle smoke, and something almost floral on the nose. The 1970s bottlings from Bowmore have a character you simply cannot get anymore. I pour it neat and just take my time with it.

Isla McCallister — The old Bowmore magic

9/10

Managed to find one of these at auction last year and I don't regret it one bit. There's this incredible combination of dark chocolate, gentle smoke, and something almost floral on the nose. The 1970s bottlings from Bowmore have a character you simply cannot get anymore. I pour it neat and just take my time with it.

Tariq Hassan — The old Bowmore magic

9/10

Managed to find one of these at auction last year and I don't regret it one bit. There's this incredible combination of dark chocolate, gentle smoke, and something almost floral on the nose. The 1970s bottlings from Bowmore have a character you simply cannot get anymore. I pour it neat and just take my time with it.

Ravi Krishnan — Elegant old-school Islay

8/10

This is nothing like modern Bowmore. The nose gives you dried fruits and a gentle maritime smokiness that just keeps unfolding. At 40% ABV it's gentle enough to sip neat without any water, which I appreciate for something this old. Lovely stuff, though I wish it had a touch more punch.

Clara Johansson — Elegant old-school Islay

8/10

This is nothing like modern Bowmore. The nose gives you dried fruits and a gentle maritime smokiness that just keeps unfolding. At 40% ABV it's gentle enough to sip neat without any water, which I appreciate for something this old. Lovely stuff, though I wish it had a touch more punch.

Amira Benali — Elegant old-school Islay

8/10

This is nothing like modern Bowmore. The nose gives you dried fruits and a gentle maritime smokiness that just keeps unfolding. At 40% ABV it's gentle enough to sip neat without any water, which I appreciate for something this old. Lovely stuff, though I wish it had a touch more punch.

Nils Bergman — Good but not life-changing

7/10

A mate brought this to our tasting group and everyone went quiet when they saw the bottle. It's undeniably well-made — the smoke and fruit balance is spot on and the finish lingers nicely. But I expected something transcendent at this price point and it's more just really solid. I'd put it alongside some £200 bottles I've enjoyed just as much.

Celeste Moreno — Good but not life-changing

7/10

A mate brought this to our tasting group and everyone went quiet when they saw the bottle. It's undeniably well-made — the smoke and fruit balance is spot on and the finish lingers nicely. But I expected something transcendent at this price point and it's more just really solid. I'd put it alongside some £200 bottles I've enjoyed just as much.

Jackson Wu — Good but not life-changing

7/10

A mate brought this to our tasting group and everyone went quiet when they saw the bottle. It's undeniably well-made — the smoke and fruit balance is spot on and the finish lingers nicely. But I expected something transcendent at this price point and it's more just really solid. I'd put it alongside some £200 bottles I've enjoyed just as much.

Rafael Santos — Beautiful but overpriced

7/10

I'll be honest, the whisky itself is very good — soft peat, tropical fruit notes, long finish with a hint of sea salt. But nearly a grand for a bottle with no age statement at 40%? I've had younger Bowmores that gave me almost as much pleasure for a fraction of the cost.

Astrid Nilsen — Beautiful but overpriced

7/10

I'll be honest, the whisky itself is very good — soft peat, tropical fruit notes, long finish with a hint of sea salt. But nearly a grand for a bottle with no age statement at 40%? I've had younger Bowmores that gave me almost as much pleasure for a fraction of the cost.

Jorge Castillo — Beautiful but overpriced

7/10

I'll be honest, the whisky itself is very good — soft peat, tropical fruit notes, long finish with a hint of sea salt. But nearly a grand for a bottle with no age statement at 40%? I've had younger Bowmores that gave me almost as much pleasure for a fraction of the cost.