Bowmore Distillery
Travel Distilled introduces the Bowmore Distillery on Islay in Scotland, with its history, expressions and information on Bowmore Distillery tours.
The History of Bowmore Distillery
Bowmore Distillery, proudly known as Islay’s oldest operating distillery, is believed to have been established in 1779 by David Simson. Nestled on the shores of Loch Indaal, it quickly became an integral part of the island’s burgeoning whisky industry. While the earliest official license dates to 1816 under John Simpson, the distillery’s roots undoubtedly run deeper.
It holds the distinction of being the first licensed distillery on Islay, a region famous for its peated single malt Scotch whiskies. The distillery is situated in the town of Bowmore, which is the island’s capital, and its name translates to “Big Reef” in Gaelic, reflecting the rugged coastal landscape of the area.
In 1837, the Simson family sold Bowmore to William and James Mutter, who significantly expanded and modernized the facility, transforming it into a thriving commercial enterprise. Their innovations, including the introduction of a steamship for transport, helped solidify Bowmore’s reputation. Over the following decades, the distillery changed hands several times, enduring economic fluctuations and even serving as a Royal Air Force Coastal Command base during World War II, halting whisky production.
A pivotal moment arrived in 1963 when Stanley P. Morrison acquired Bowmore. The Morrison era is often celebrated for producing some of Bowmore’s most iconic and highly sought-after whiskies, particularly the legendary 1960s vintages like the Black Bowmore series, which significantly boosted the brand’s prestige.
In 1994, Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, including Bowmore, became fully owned by the Japanese company Suntory (now part of Beam Suntory). Today, Bowmore continues to uphold its rich heritage, notably by maintaining its own floor maltings, a rarity in the industry, contributing to its distinctive smoky and maritime character. The distillery remains a beacon of Islay whisky, celebrated globally for its complex and age-worthy single malts.
Bowmore Distillery Production Methods
Bowmore Distillery is renowned for its traditional production methods, which have remained largely unchanged for over two centuries. The distillery uses locally sourced barley, pure water from the Laggan River, and peat from Islay to create its distinctive whiskies.
The malting process is still partially done on-site, with barley turned by hand on the distillery’s malting floor—a rarity in modern whisky production. The whisky is aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, contributing to its complex flavor profile characterized by smoky, fruity, and maritime notes.
Maturation Warehouse
The distillery’s iconic No. 1 Vaults, one of the oldest maturation warehouses in Scotland, is a key part of its heritage. The cool, damp conditions of the vaults, combined with the salty sea air, play a crucial role in shaping the character of Bowmore’s whiskies.
Distinguishing Taste Characteristics
Balanced Peat Smoke: Bowmore uses peat in its malting process, but the resulting smoke is typically more moderate and integrated than a “smoke bomb.” It often presents as a campfire or wood-fire smoke, sometimes with a herbal or even floral quality, rather than a medicinal or overtly phenolic one.
Citrus and Tropical Fruits: A hallmark of Bowmore’s profile is the presence of bright citrus notes (lemon, orange, sometimes even lime) and often tropical fruits (pineapple, mango, peach). These fruity elements provide a vibrant counterpoint to the smoke.
Maritime Influence: Given its location right on the shores of Loch Indaal, Bowmore whiskies often exhibit a distinct maritime character – notes of sea salt, brine, and a fresh coastal air. This adds another layer of complexity and a sense of place.
Sweetness and Honey: Many Bowmore expressions carry a gentle sweetness, often with hints of heather honey, vanilla, and caramel. This sweetness helps to round out the smoky and fruity elements.
Sherry Influence: While American oak ex-bourbon casks are used, Bowmore also utilizes European oak Oloroso sherry casks for maturation. This often introduces rich dried fruit notes (raisins, dates), dark chocolate, and warm spices, especially in older or sherry-finished expressions.
Core Expressions and their Distinctions
Bowmore 12 Year Old: This is considered the cornerstone of their core range and a benchmark for the distillery’s style. It perfectly embodies the balance of subtle lemon and heather honey sweetness with Bowmore’s trademark peat smoke. It’s often seen as an excellent entry point into Islay whiskies due to its approachable nature. You’ll find notes of warm dark chocolate and a long, mellow finish.
Bowmore 15 Year Old: This expression often sees a finishing period in Oloroso sherry casks, adding a darker, richer dimension to the classic Bowmore profile. Expect amplified notes of dried fruits (raisins, dates), rich toffee, and a more pronounced spicy undertone alongside the signature smoke and tropical fruits. It’s often described as a “Darkest” expression.
Bowmore 18 Year Old: This expression delivers even greater depth and complexity. Matured in a combination of American oak ex-Bourbon and European oak Oloroso sherry casks for at least 18 years, it offers a sophisticated interplay of mature fruits (often red berries, cherry), rich dark chocolate, and a velvety, well-integrated peat warmth. It’s known for its bold yet smooth character with a surprising sweetness.
Beyond these core offerings, Bowmore also releases older, limited edition, and cask-strength whiskies, which can further showcase the nuanced interplay of these flavors, often with more intense fruit, deeper sherry influence, or a more pronounced maritime character depending on the cask and maturation time.
Bowmore’s Arc-52
Bowmore ARC-52 is an exceptionally rare and highly sought-after single malt Scotch whisky, resulting from a collaboration between Bowmore Distillery and luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin.
Age: It’s a 52-year-old single malt, making it one of the oldest whiskies ever released by Bowmore. This long maturation contributes to its remarkable depth and complexity.
Collaboration with Aston Martin: The “ARC-52” name and its futuristic design are a direct result of the partnership with Aston Martin. The decanter itself is a marvel of engineering and design, meant to embody the balance and innovation shared by both brands. It’s designed to balance on two points, giving it an almost weightless appearance, and features a carbon fiber top.
Cask Maturation: The whisky is a marriage of equal parts matured in European oak sherry butts and ex-bourbon American oak hogsheads. This combination creates a unique balance of rich fruitiness from the sherry and classic vanilla and sweetness from the bourbon casks, integrated with Bowmore’s signature subtle peat smoke.
Limited Edition: Only 100 decanters of Bowmore ARC-52 were released globally on a staggered basis, making it incredibly exclusive and a highly coveted collector’s item.
Flavor Profile: Tasting notes often describe a complex and impeccably balanced whisky. Expect creamy and fruity aromas (vanilla, custard cream, peach, pear, kumquat, mandarin, guava, with herbal notes of fresh mint and eucalyptus). On the palate, flavors of green grapes, peach melba, clementine, lime zest merge with nutty notes (almond, hazelnuts), subtle peat ash, and a buttery character. The finish is long, with sweet oak notes and a touch of maritime air.
Price: Due to its extreme rarity, age, and the prestigious collaboration, the ARC-52 commands a very high price. While the initial retail price was around £65,000 / $75,000 (ex VAT/duty), it has fetched significantly higher amounts at auction, with a “Mokume Edition” (a unique one-off variant) selling for £225,000 ($236,738 USD) at Sotheby’s in May 2023.
In essence, the Bowmore ARC-52 represents the pinnacle of Bowmore’s craftsmanship and its innovative partnership with Aston Martin, creating a truly exceptional and visually stunning whisky.
The Most Expensive Bowmore
The most expensive Bowmore whisky sold at auction is the Bowmore STAC 55 Years Old. This exceptionally rare single malt, distilled in 1962, sold for a record-breaking £562,500 ($679,331 USD) at the Distillers One of One Charity Auction in partnership with Sotheby’s in October 2023.
The Bowmore STAC was presented in a unique 1.5-liter hand-blown glass sculpture designed to resemble the sea stack rock formations around Islay. The proceeds from its sale benefited The Youth Action Fund, supporting disadvantaged young adults in Scotland.
Touring Bowmore Distillery
Bowmore offers a range of tours and experiences, from shorter introductory visits to more in-depth masterclasses. Here’s a general idea of what you can expect to see and experience:
The Malting Floors: This is a significant highlight at Bowmore, as it’s one of the very few distilleries left in Scotland that still floor malts its own barley. You’ll see the barley spread out on large floors, being hand-turned by maltmen using traditional wooden shovels. This labor-intensive process is crucial for controlling the level of peat smoke infusion. You might even get a chance to try turning the barley yourself!
The Peat Kiln: Connected to the malting floors, you’ll see the kiln where the malted barley is dried, partially by peat smoke. This is where Bowmore gets its characteristic smoky flavor.
The Mash House: Here, you’ll see the large mash tun where the malted barley is mixed with hot water from the Laggan River (Bowmore’s water source) to extract the sugars, creating a sweet liquid called “wort.”
The Washbacks: These are large wooden (or sometimes stainless steel) vats where yeast is added to the wort, initiating fermentation. This process converts the sugars into alcohol, creating a “wash” (similar to beer). Bowmore is known for its relatively long fermentation times.
The Still House: This is where the magic of distillation happens. You’ll see the beautiful copper pot stills (Bowmore has four) where the wash is heated, and the alcohol vaporizes, condenses, and is collected. You’ll learn about the shape and size of the stills and how they influence the character of the spirit.
The Legendary No. 1 Vaults: This is often the highlight for many visitors. Bowmore’s oldest maturation warehouse is unique because it’s located below sea level, right on the shores of Loch Indaal. The cool, damp, and often briny air within these stone vaults is believed to impart a distinctive maritime influence to the aging whisky. You’ll see thousands of casks quietly maturing, and the smell of the “angel’s share” (the evaporating alcohol) is truly intoxicating. Some premium tours even offer cask tastings directly from barrels in the vaults.
The Visitor Centre & Tasting: All tours typically conclude with a guided tasting of several Bowmore expressions. You’ll learn how to properly nose and taste whisky, and a guide will explain the nuances of each dram. The visitor centre also has a well-stocked shop where you can purchase whiskies, including distillery-exclusive bottlings.
Booking a Tour:
It is highly recommended to book your tour in advance, especially if you’re visiting during peak season or have a specific tour in mind. Islay is a popular destination for whisky tourism, and distilleries can get busy. You can usually book directly through the Bowmore Distillery website or by contacting them via phone or email.
Bowmore offers different levels of tours, from general distillery walkthroughs to more in-depth “Craftsman’s Tours” and exclusive “Ultimate Experiences” that include cask tastings and more private access. Prices vary depending on the length and exclusivity of the tour.
Contacting Bowmore
Address:
Bowmore Distillery,
School Street,
Bowmore,
Isle of Islay,
Argyll, PA43 7GS,
Scotland.
Phone Number:
+44 (0)1496 810441
Website:
https://www.bowmore.com
Social Media:
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bowmore
– X: https://x.com/Bowmore
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