Bowmore 25 Year Old 1996 – The Distiller's Anthology No.01 | Oloroso Sherry Cask | 49.7% ABV | 3,516 Bottles | 70cl

The Bowmore Distiller's Anthology is a series that does exactly what its name suggests — a curated chapter in the distillery's story, selected and presented by the Distillery Manager himself. Anthology 01 is the first release in the series: a 25-year-old Islay single malt distilled in 1996 and matured exclusively in oloroso sherry casks, bottled in 2022 at 49.7% ABV with an outturn of just 3,516 bottles. Each bottle was signed by Distillery Manager David Turner, who described it as "deliciously ripe with a sweet spicy fruitcake flavour" — and the liquid very much delivers on that promise. Bowmore from 1996 is from a well-regarded vintage, and 25 years in active oloroso casks has done exactly what you'd hope: the distillery's characteristic coastal smoke and brine are fully intact, beautifully balanced against a deep, rich sherry sweetness.

Key Details
- Distillery: Bowmore, Islay
- Series: The Distiller's Anthology
- Release: No. 01
- Vintage: Distilled 1996
- Age: 25 Years Old
- Bottled: 2022
- Cask: Oloroso sherry casks
- Bottling strength: 49.7% ABV
- Bottle size: 70cl
- Outturn: 3,516 bottles
- Packaging: Original presentation box
- Condition: Perfect, with original presentation box

Tasting Notes
Nose: Sweet stewed prunes with oaky barbecue smoke and salted caramel — dried fruits, sea salt, and soft oak interweaving with elegant sherry richness. Tropical fruit and a hint of tobacco develop with time.
Palate: Oily and rich, with spicy fruit cake, smooth dark chocolate, raisins, coffee, and nuts. Caramel and dried tobacco leaves thread through, with coastal smoke remaining present and perfectly integrated despite 25 years of age.
Finish: Long and warming — dark chocolate, smoke, spiced citrus, and a lingering sherry sweetness that fades slowly and gracefully.

Why This Bottle Is Worth Bidding On
- The first release in a new Bowmore series, signed by the Distillery Manager and presented in a luxury box — Anthology 01 carries the kind of provenance and presentation that makes it a standout in any collection.
- 25-year-old Bowmore from a 1996 vintage, fully matured in oloroso sherry casks, is a genuinely rare combination — Islay peat and sherry richness at this age and from this distillery are in very limited supply.
- With only 3,516 bottles produced worldwide, secondary market demand for this release has been consistent since bottling, and as the Anthology series grows the inaugural release will only attract more collector interest over time.