North Star - Islay Connection - 50.4% (Bowmore & Bruichladdich)

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 50.4% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

The Islay Connection is a ten-year-old blended malt whose age statement reflects its youngest component, distilled in 2015. The composition combines Bowmore, Bruichladdich and other Islay malts matured in bourbon and refill sherry casks. North Star Spirits bottled it in 2026 at 50.4% alcohol, without chill filtration or added colouring.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Coastal smoke defines the first impression. Behind it are campfire embers and slowly smouldering peat, while sea spray and iodine sharpen the maritime character.
• Palate: The initial attack is powerful and smoke-led. Earthy peat and ash set the tone at first, followed by an increasingly prominent salty maritime note. Salted caramel, black pepper and smoked almonds provide sweet and spicy counterpoints.
• Finish: Smoke and sea salt carry the long, warming and dry finish. Oak spice and clove then fade alongside a delicate sweetness reminiscent of lightly burnt toffee.

Distillery/Bottler:

Bowmore Distillery, Bruichladdich Distillery and other Islay distilleries produced the malts used in this whisky. North Star Spirits, acting as an independent bottler, combined them to create this blended malt and bottled it.

Bowmore has been distilling on the shores of Loch Indaal since 1779 and describes itself as Islay’s oldest distillery. Bruichladdich was founded in 1881, revived in 2001, and carries out distillation, maturation and bottling on Islay. For this bottling, North Star combines malts from these two distilleries with other Islay malts.

Facts: