Bowmore – 1984 Samaroli Bottling 70CL LC

This Bowmore, an independent 1984 bottling from the respected Italian bottler Samaroli, bottled for Le Clos, pairs one of Islay's oldest and most historically significant distilleries with a bottler renowned for exceptional cask selection. Bowmore, founded in 1779, is Islay's oldest legal distillery, and its whisky occupies a distinctive middle ground on the island's peat spectrum: smokier than mainland Highland whisky, but generally softer and more approachable than the fiercely peated styles associated with Ardbeg or Laphroaig further down the coast. A 1984 vintage means this whisky has matured for decades, developing real complexity while retaining Bowmore's characteristic balance. Expect a nose of gentle peat smoke intertwined with honey, citrus, and a faint maritime salinity reflecting the distillery's coastal location directly on Loch Indaal. The palate should continue that balanced profile, with honeyed sweetness and citrus meeting soft smoke and a light brininess, all carried on a smooth, well-integrated texture built up over decades in cask. The finish is likely long and gently smoky, closing on lingering honey and sea spray. Given Samaroli's reputation for exceptional cask selection and the rarity of well-aged 1984 Bowmore, this bottling is a genuine find for serious Islay whisky collectors and Samaroli enthusiasts alike.