Inside Bowmore’s 9-Year-Old tasting experience at Suite 115

Premium single malt Scotch isn’t typically associated with affordability. Bowmore is looking to shift that perception with its 9-Year-Old, recently released in Ontario at $59.95.

The lower price is aimed at drinkers who are curious about Scotch but hesitant to take the plunge due to its intimidating reputation and traditionally higher cost.

“At the end of the day, people are open to whisky, but they’re also seeking options that deliver great depth of flavour at a more accessible price point,” says David Hudyma, the prestige engagement specialist for Suntory Global Spirits, which represents Bowmore in Canada. “There simply aren’t many premium-quality single malts at this price point.”

And it looks like Bowmore 9-Year-Old has hit the spot. Unveiled for the first time in Toronto exclusively to TL Insiders, who packed the stylish Suite 115 speakeasy, guests sampled the rich, lightly peated whisky, expertly paired with freshly shucked oysters, buttery brioche shrimp toasts, pork dumplings and Indo short ribs.

“Bowmore 9-Year-Old is bright, welcoming and complex,” says Megan Cuff, Bowmore’s senior brand manager. “It’s an accessible expression that still showcases the core philosophy of the distillery, offering exceptional breadth and layers of flavour.”

Bowmore is Islay’s oldest licensed distillery, established on the island in 1779, and it is the second most collectible whisky in the world. The aim of Bowmore 9-Year-Old is to honour the expertise and heritage of the renowned distillery while challenging the perception that Scotch is for an older generation.

The 9-Year-Old is the youngest of the permanent collection that celebrates Bowmore’s signature rich, fruity character and delicate peated complexity. Like all Bowmore Scotch, this expression is aged in ex-bourbon casks for toffee and caramel notes and European oloroso sherry butts for a plummy, dark fruit character. The delicate peat finish complements the natural saline note, which is inherently infused from the distillery’s home on the edge of the wild Atlantic Ocean.

“If you’re newer to Scotch, the Bowmore 9-Year-Old is an exceptional introduction with its subtler smoky profile. It can be enjoyed neat and is a perfect choice for cocktails, as well,” says Cuff.

A few TL Insiders tried their hand at mixing craft cocktails under the expert tutelage of Suite 115’s award-winning bartenders: the Islay Orchard, a summery spin on a whisky sour that incorporates refreshing peach and lemon notes, and Uppa Country, a deeply spiced cocktail with fragrant Jamaican sorrel and hibiscus.

“The accessible price point and smooth flavour of Bowmore 9-Year-Old means enthusiasts are more open to experimentation and bars can make a more accessible cocktail,” says Hudyma while pouring samples from behind the bar for the eager crowd.

You could say Bowmore 9-Year-Old is the democratization of Scotch, welcoming the future while honouring its esteemed past.

“Bowmore is for everyone,” says Hudyma. “There’s no wrong way to drink it, only the right way for you.”

Purchase Bowmore 9-Year-Old at the LCBO.