Official launch - Autumn 2026
The Virtues – Temperance | Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky 1996
"Blessed are they, whom grace doth so illume, that appetite in them exhaleth no inordinate desire, still hung’ring as the rule of temperance wills." DANTE – PURGATORIO, CANTO 24
The sixth chapter in The Virtues series follows the acclaimed releases of Charity, Kindness, Diligence, Chastity, and Patience. This time, the journey takes us to the windswept shores of Islay, where an exceptional 30-year-old Bowmore embodies the virtue of Temperance.
Distilled in June 1996 at the legendary Bowmore Distillery, this remarkable single malt spent three decades resting in a single refill hogshead (#211). Rather than being shaped by aggressive cask finishing, the spirit was given the time and space to mature naturally, allowing the unmistakable character of Bowmore to remain at its heart.
Bottled in September 2026 at its natural cask strength of 44.5% ABV, without additives or manipulation, Temperance is a study in balance and restraint. Three decades of maturation have refined the spirit without overwhelming it, revealing a whisky where smoke and freshness, richness and clarity, power and elegance exist in remarkable harmony.
Only 198 bottles were produced, making this an exceptionally limited expression and a fitting tribute to one of the most demanding virtues: the ability to resist excess and preserve what truly matters.
Thirty years in a Scottish warehouse cannot be hurried. Slowly, season after season, the whisky surrendered some of its youthful force while gaining depth, complexity, and grace. Temperance reminds us that true richness does not always come from adding more - sometimes it comes from knowing when to leave something untouched.
Specifications
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Origin: Islay, Scotland
Distillery: Bowmore
Distilled: June 1996
Bottled: September 2026
Cask: Refill Hogshead - #211
Base: Barley
Maturation: 30 Years
Strength: 44.5%
Size: 700 ml
Limited Edition: 198 Bottles
Illustration & Selection: Robert Bauer
When man gluts himself on feast and drink, he will in time take harm to his very soul. And just as with man, so too the soul of a whisky is often smothered by aggressive finishing in the wettest casks - dressed up dark and wine-like, until little remains of its original soul and the character of its distillery.
Not so this Bowmore. For thirty years, the angels wrestled and pulled at this used hogshead in a cold Scottish warehouse, purifying and refining its wild Islay character. "Exercise and temperance can preserve something of our early strength even in old age," as Cicero already knew.
On the nose, fine dark smoke, leather, and wet hay draw the senses into a shadowed depth, caught and lifted by fresh scents of oxygen, sea spray, dried apples, and lemon zest.
On the palate, a bewildering pastry sweetness meets pure brine, creating a whisky that is rich and full of character while remaining remarkably clear and elegant. The experience slowly fades into a long, bittersweet echo of grapefruit peel.
Where others drown their spirit in excess, practice temperance, and you shall know a richness within.
About the Distillery
Bowmore, founded in 1779 on the shores of Loch Indaal, is one of Scotland's oldest licensed distilleries and one of Islay's most iconic names. Its coastal warehouses and distinctive island character have become inseparable from the identity of Bowmore whisky.
Temperance is the art of preserving what matters - and allowing time to reveal the rest.
Read more about The Virtues & Rob Bauer rob-bauer.com
