BOWMORE 15 Year Old Official for WHISKY SHOP W.

This is now an incredibly affordable BOWMORE. BOWMORE 15yo OB for WHISKY SHOP W. 54.8% - One of 2400 bottles The aroma features fresh lemon, passion fruit, apple, a touch of pineapple, briny sea breeze and seaweed, a youthful yet pleasant maltiness, ginger and herbal notes, oiliness, and a solid smoky finish. On the palate, it begins with a smooth mouthfeel that expands into a gradual spiciness, passion fruit and guava, vanilla cream, juicy sweetness, a slightly briny dashi umami, fresh malt and its savory notes, oak, and a long smoky peat finish. [Good/Very Good] This BOWMORE 15-year-old was bottled specifically for Suntory's direct whisky shop, 'W.' I remember drinking it multiple times upon its release, but according to my records, it was released in 2011. There's a rumor that the vintage is 1995. Recently, I heard that it's still being sold normally at Yorochō, and I checked Suntory's website to confirm. When this was released, I hoped it would be the beginning of many such Japanese releases, but ultimately, that never happened. (laughs) Even though it's a domestic release with 2400 bottles, it's still available on online shops four years after its release. That makes me think that the lack of new Japanese releases is partly our own fault for not buying them. Regarding the content, it's a typical BOWMORE from the mid-to-late 90s. The aroma has a slightly mellowed character, less flamboyant than early 90s releases but still retains BOWMORE's tropical fruitiness with a surprisingly robust body and peatiness. Actually, at the time of release, I thought it was good but somewhat ordinary. Even now, my impression hasn't changed much. However, given that most post-2000 releases have lost their former quality, this is now a precious and appreciated find. Amidst the rising prices of Islay malts, being able to purchase a genuine 90s official cask strength BOWMORE at the original tax-inclusive price of ¥10,800 (free shipping) is surprisingly remarkable. If a new release of the same vintage were to come out as a limited cask strength bottling, it would likely be priced around 20 years of aging, which in today's market might cost double. Considering this, I decided to purchase multiple bottles for the first time in a while. This is now a BOWMORE from the mid-90s, reminiscent of older times, and I'll enjoy it at home.