| Region of production: | Islay |
| Distillery Location: | Bowmore, Argyll and Bute |
| Year Established: | 1779 |
Top Spirits Produced
- Core Range:
- 12, 15, 18, 25 Years Old
- No. 1
- Travel (Duty Free) Range: 10, 15, 18 Years Old
- Limited Releases:
- 19 Years Old
- Vintner’s Trilogy: 18, 26, 27 Years Old
- Mizunara Cask Finish: Aged in Mizunara oak casks from Japan.
- Vault Edition Atlantic Sea Salt: The first of a series of four vault releases, each highlighting one of Bowmore’s signature characteristics.
- Rare: 1996 Vintage, Black Bowmore 50 Years Old, 1957, The 50 Year Old
Average Total Production
- 2 million liters neutral spirit before aging
Summary
Bowmore was founded in 1779 by David Simpson, granting it the title of oldest distillery on Islay and the second oldest in all of Scotland. Simpson purchased the land in 1766, and while there are no records of distillation before 1779, many believe it began in the decade prior. Twin brothers William and James Mutter bought the distillery in 1837 and expanded it as demand grew, including construction of the lade that still draws water from the River Laggan today. The distillery received the name Bowmore Distillery Co. from Joseph Robert Holmes, head of the consortium that purchased it in 1892. Much later, in 1963, Stanley P. Morrison purchased Bowmore, and Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd. was formed. Bowmore was acquired by Suntory in 1994, when it purchased Morrison Bowmore, and Suntory merged with Beam Inc. in 2014 to create Beam Suntory.
Style & Distillation Techniques
Bowmore’s process begins with malting 30% of the barley required for production. The barley is peated during the first 18 of 42 hours of drying. New spirits are matured in used casks for a minimum of nine years. The spirits are most commonly aged in American oak, Bourbon barrels, and Sherry casks. Some whiskies experience a double maturation in multiple oak options. Bowmore is known for having the oldest whisky maturation warehouse in the world, dating to the 1700s and called the No. 1 Vaults. The warehouses are located close to the water, surrounded by salty sea air.
Producer Website: Bowmore