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$5K for bottle of Scotch? Oh, for the love of peat

Most expensive liquor sold in Manitoba

By: Geoff Kirbyson

Posted: 11/24/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

MLCC employee Barb McBride holds a $4,500, 43-year-old bottle of single-malt Scotch. (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

I'll drink to that

Will your taste buds thank you if you drop $4,500 on a bottle of single-malt scotch? Here's an excerpt from the tasting notes of White Bowmore: "The colour is golden syrup with amazing aromas of Gallia melon, mango and papaya. On the palate, there are hints of mixed exotic fruits, vanilla and maple syrup with just a trace of Bowmore peat smoke. The finish is surprisingly clean and incredibly long."

It's safe to say the Winnipegger who bought a 750-ml bottle of White Bowmore Islay single-malt Scotch whisky last week -- the most expensive bottle of liquor ever sold in the province -- didn't pick up any Coke or orange juice to go with it.

With a price tag of $4,500 -- $5,040 after taxes are included -- the White Bowmore, which was distilled on an island off the western coast of Scotland in 1964, aged for 43 years and bottled last year, topped the $3,895 fetched for each of four bottles of Black Bowmore last year. (One bottle of Black Bowmore is still for sale at the Grant Park Shopping Centre liquor store.)

Gary Dawyduk, product ambassador for the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission, said such high-end whisky is best served straight up in a tulip-shaped whisky glass.

"You'll get an absolute explosion of flavour and a finish that will go on seemingly forever on your palette. You'll get the privilege of knowing what you're tasting is one of the most prestigious products produced. You'll be celebrating the labour of the people who made it and the distiller that produced it," he said.

"You can only do it justice by sipping it straight," he said, scoffing at suggestions of various mixes or ice.

Billy Casselman, Prairie manager for Saverio Schiralli Agencies Ltd., which represents Scotland-based Morrison Bowmore Distillers in Canada, said two bottles of White Bowmore were brought into Manitoba last week. One sold immediately out of the St. Vital Square liquor store while the second remains on display at the Bunn's Creek location on Henderson Highway. (Only 732 bottles were made in total.)

"Despite the economy, the upper crust still has disposable income for select products," he said.

The white and black varieties of Bowmore are named for the casks in which they're aged. The black was aged in sherry casks and has a darker colour while the white aged in bourbon casks and is lighter in colour. They're both distilled from single malt barley.

Dawyduk said the Bowmore varieties are unique in that most whiskies don't age well beyond 15 years. The average bottle retails for about $80 in Manitoba with a low end of about $40.

"Very few can age as old as this and in the distiller's opinion still be something worthwhile drinking.

The average age has been increasing in the last 10 to 15 years. (Traditionally), fine wines from France have been prestigious and collectable. This has extended to single-malt scotch whisky," he said.

This isn't the end of the Bowmore tale, however. Both Casselman and Dawyduk said plans are underway to bring a number of bottles of Gold Bowmore to Manitoba next year. Aged in both bourbon and sherry barrels, Gold is a mix of the black and white varieties and is expected to retail for about $4,500 before taxes.

Two weeks ago, three bottles of Bowmore, one each of white, black and gold, sold at Christie's auction house for a total of US$21,600.

"It's a good investment for some people," Casselman said.

geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 24, 2009 A2

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