Yes this 2002 Signatory Bowmore 11 Years sold out nearly 4 years ago and no you can’t get it now. This means I will inevitably get a comment or three essentially saying “why are you reviewing something that no one can buy?” Simply put it’s so you know to keep your eyes open for future opportunities. So if you see an 11 yr refill sherry single cask (NCF & NC) on the shelf you hop on the opportunity because it will likely be good drinking. This bottle is what gave me that insight 4 years ago and now I’m sharing that insight with you.
In K&L’s Words: 2002 Signatory Bowmore 11 Years
“Bowmore is ALWAYS such a sleeper for us. Each year, we find a cask or two of Bowmore that we absolutely fall in love with. There are so many reasons why Bowmore is special, it’s hard to pinpoint why exactly we love it so much. Is it because they are malting more than 25% of the barley on site? Or perhaps it’s the fact that the distillery’s main warehouse sits below sea level.
Maybe it’s the incredible resources and expertise that the distillery has or the peculiarity of the stills. Either way, we are absolutely entranced by most millennial Bowmore. This 2002 was so taut and powerful at full strength that we decided to experiment with bottling at lower proof. When we added water the whisky turned around and smacked us right in the face!”
David OG said it all for me; on to the 2002 Signatory Bowmore 11 Years review.
2002 Signatory Bowmore 11 Years Info
Region: Islay, Scotland
Distiller: Bowmore
Bottler: Signatory
Mashbill: 100% Mashbill
Cask: Refill Sherry Hogshead
Age: 11 years (10/2/2002 – 5/19/2014)
ABV: 46%
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Barrel: 2175
Bottle: 39
Price: $75 (when it was available)
2002 Signatory Bowmore 11 Years Review
EYE
Golden
NOSE
Peat, honey, orchard fruit, vanilla, medicinal, dark sweets, a bit of smoked fish and a slight salty essence like tsea air.
PALATE
Peat, orchard fruit, honey, dark sweets, salty earthiness and light bit of wood and a slight medicinal character.
FINISH
Long drawl of peat, wood, dark sweets and smoked meat.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Well balanced, medium body and a lightly oily feel.
OVERALL
This 2002 Signatory Bowmore 11 Years is the minimum of what Bowmore should be. The fruity sweet and warmly peated aroma should be the standard aroma and the caramelized fruit and smoke palate should the standard palate for Bowmore. This kind of soft, sweet and smoky delivery is what would keep me coming back for more and turn me into a fan of their OB releases, though for now it’s why I’m a fan of IBs.
SCORE: 87/100 (B+)
