Bowmore 1981 Limited Release Scotch Whisky
Bowmore 1981 Limited Release Scotch Whisky is a 700mL Islay single malt bottled at cask strength, 49.6% ABV, distilled in 1981 at Bowmore Distillery and bottled in 2010 after 28 years in fine oak casks. It is the first expression of Bowmore's Vintage Series, limited to 402 bottles worldwide, bottled without chill-filtration and presented in a wooden gift box with a numbered certificate hand-signed by the Distillery Manager. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 49.6% (cask strength)
- Size: 700mL
- Age: 28 years — distilled 1981, bottled 2010
- Casks: Fine oak casks (cask type not stated by the producer)
- Region: Bowmore, Isle of Islay, Scotland
- Production: Non-chill-filtered; limited to 402 bottles
The Vintage Series Begins
When Bowmore launched its Vintage Series in September 2010, the 1981 led it out: a single year drawn after 28 years in fine oak, bottled at its natural 49.6% strength with no chill-filtration. Only 402 bottles were filled, each carrying a hand-signed, numbered certificate from the Distillery Manager and presented in a wooden box with a weather-beaten leather strap and copper buckle. It remains the starting point of the series the 1982 followed a year later. See both vintages on the Bowmore vendor page and in our whisky collection.
Tasting Notes
Per the producer's notes: treacle toffee, ripe figs and smoked vanilla pods on the nose with a light, fragrant fruitiness; a palate that opens with a whisper of earthy peat smoke, then fruit, balanced by a tang of Atlantic sea salt.
How to Enjoy
Neat first at full cask strength, then with a teaspoon of water to lift the fig and toffee — this is contemplative Islay, not a mixing malt. More vintage malts are in our whisky collection and across our spirits collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the Bowmore 1981 Limited Release?
Twenty-eight years — distilled in 1981 and bottled in 2010 as the first expression of Bowmore's Vintage Series, at a cask strength of 49.6% ABV.
How many bottles of Bowmore 1981 were made?
402 bottles worldwide, presented in a wooden gift box with a numbered, hand-signed certificate.
Is the Bowmore 1981 chill-filtered?
No — it was bottled without chill-filtration at its natural cask strength, per the launch material and auction records for the bottling.
The first vintage of the series, four hundred and two bottles deep — order Bowmore 1981 Limited Release online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.