This site outlines the history of the Bowmore brand, the personality, and celebrated stories, and the distinguishing characteristics of the liquid itself.
The accounts and statements on this site form the DNA of the Bowmore brand. These truths shape the brand and help to define its future direction.
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THE DECK
MOMENTS
THE OLDEST ISLAY WHISKY
The Bowmore distillery has stood in exactly the same place, on the shores of Lochindaal – a sea loch opening out into the Atlantic Ocean – since 1779. To this day, the distillery still operates in traditional ways, honoring old equipment and floor malting methods. The Bowmore brand has a long history that involves multiple owners and eras of expansion of both the distillery and liquid profiles.
Bowmore Timeline
1776
David Simson gets the rights to the land from Laird David Campbell the Younger
1779
Bowmore Distillery is born, the first licensed distillery on Islay
1838
The Mutter family buys the distillery and expands production
1883-1896
The Bowmore lade is constructed (the longest distillery lade in Scotland)
1892
Bowmore Distillery is purchased by Joseph Robert Holmes (London Consortium)
1925
John Bell Sherriff purchases the distillery, renaming it Sherriff’s Bowmore Distillery
1939-1945
During WWII British and Canadian Air Force use Bowmore as a base
1950-1970s
The celebratory status of Islay Whisky is created, establishing the ‘Bowmore style’ as ‘the greatest whisky of all time’
1950
William Grigor purchases Bowmore; he dies 10 years later, and his widow sells it.
1963
Stanley P. Morrison Ltd. purchases the distillery from Kay Grigor for £117,000
1974
A visitor centre is built at Bowmore
1980
Queen Elizabeth II visits Bowmore; a celebratory cask is filled, later sold as LTO
1989
Suntory Ltd. takes a 35% stake in Bowmore.
1994
Suntory takes full ownership
1999
A rare (1/306) Bowmore bottle is stolen in Edmonton, Canada – never to be found
Stories
THE ORIGIN OF ISLAY WHISKY
THE FIRST
PIONEERING WHISKY ON ISLAY
Bowmore is Islay’s first distillery, and the second oldest distillery in Scotland. Not only did Bowmore pioneer the exporting of whisky to mainland Scotland (through the Mutter brothers), it also helped to establish and open up Islay as a whiskey destination.
THE NAME & THE ROCKS
‘Bowmore’ is a curious name with folklore surrounding its mysterious past. While the origin of the name has no direct translation (being a combination of Norse and Gaelic languages), the name Bowmore alludes to:
1. ‘The little black reef in Lochindaal’ and 2.’The Norse description ‘Bogha Mor’, meaning sunken rock’. The Bowmore lade – Scotland’s longest distillery lade – runs over some of the world’s oldest strata/rocks (determined by geologists).
1. ‘The little black reef in Lochindaal’ and 2.’The Norse description ‘Bogha Mor’, meaning sunken rock’. The Bowmore lade – Scotland’s longest distillery lade – runs over some of the world’s oldest strata/rocks (determined by geologists).
THE NO.1 VAULTS
Bowmore is home to the world’s oldest whisky maturation warehouse, the legendary No. 1 Vaults where Bowmore develops its distinctive flavour profile. The rocky walls of the Vaults, sprayed by the ocean waves, creates a unique atmosphere, giving the whisky its fruity maturation.
People
THE CREATORS OF ISLAY WHISKY
THE FOUNDER
DAVID SIMSON
FOUNDED BOWMORE 1779
The Simson family travelled from Edinburgh to Islay in the 17th century, and made their home on the island.
David Simson was a merchant and a typical ‘islander.’ He worked as a farmer, and he ran both the Packet (ferry) service and the Post Office. In 1766, David moved from Kilarrow to Bowmore. His arrival coincided with the expansion of the village after Daniel Campbell the Younger, the Laird of Islay, decided to build Bowmore as the island’s capital. David Simson acquired the land rights from David Campbell, and added Distiller to his list of occupations.
At the time, there were many small-scale, unlicensed distillers on the island. An entrepreneur at heart, David became the first to really organise production and invest in increasing the production level.
The Simson family were, by Islay standards, a reasonably wealthy family, which allowed David to invest in setting up the distillery. David was an honest man, as he agreed to pay fees on his distilling operations whereas many others avoided the fees.
David chose Bowmore as he knew this village was to become the (new) central town of Islay. The location was chosen as it had easy access to water (key for transportation of casks to the mainland), as well as a suitable water source (for early distillation). The Bowmore whisky that David distilled became the first Islay Single Malt, and Bowmore distillery became the second oldest distillery in Scotland.
1779 marks the first recorded mention of an actual distillery on Islay.
David Simson was a merchant and a typical ‘islander.’ He worked as a farmer, and he ran both the Packet (ferry) service and the Post Office. In 1766, David moved from Kilarrow to Bowmore. His arrival coincided with the expansion of the village after Daniel Campbell the Younger, the Laird of Islay, decided to build Bowmore as the island’s capital. David Simson acquired the land rights from David Campbell, and added Distiller to his list of occupations.
At the time, there were many small-scale, unlicensed distillers on the island. An entrepreneur at heart, David became the first to really organise production and invest in increasing the production level.
The Simson family were, by Islay standards, a reasonably wealthy family, which allowed David to invest in setting up the distillery. David was an honest man, as he agreed to pay fees on his distilling operations whereas many others avoided the fees.
David chose Bowmore as he knew this village was to become the (new) central town of Islay. The location was chosen as it had easy access to water (key for transportation of casks to the mainland), as well as a suitable water source (for early distillation). The Bowmore whisky that David distilled became the first Islay Single Malt, and Bowmore distillery became the second oldest distillery in Scotland.
1779 marks the first recorded mention of an actual distillery on Islay.
THE EXPANDERS
THE MUTTER BROTHERS
1837 - 1887
James and William Mutter, known as the Mutter brothers, bought the Bowmore Distillery from the Simson family in 1838.
Originally of German family origins, the head of the family James Mutter was a proud Glaswegian, working as the vice consul representing Portugal, Brazil and the Ottoman Empire at Glasgow consulates.
William Mutter was a generous patron of the arts.
The Mutter brothers headed their correspondence with the Gaelic motto: ‘Fioghinn agus soir Bhunanghadh,’ meaning ‘full and excellent quality.’ They also used a castle as a trademark, which may originate from their family crest.
William and James were entrepreneurial (and described as ‘colourful’) merchants who wanted to scale the production. They invested in developing the distillery to make it more suited for larger commercial production. This was a reflection of the increasing interest in blended Scotch, and the new production setup allowed the Mutter brothers to satisfy the new demand.
As part of the expansion, the brothers needed more water. They commissioned Irish navigators and their distillery employees to dig a lade (a channel carrying the current) to draw water from the nearby River Laggan. This water source runs over some of the oldest rocks of Scotland, and is still in use today. The brothers also purchased a steam ship to transport the expanded production.
After 50 years of ownership, the Mutter brothers sold the company to the Sherriff family.
Originally of German family origins, the head of the family James Mutter was a proud Glaswegian, working as the vice consul representing Portugal, Brazil and the Ottoman Empire at Glasgow consulates.
William Mutter was a generous patron of the arts.
The Mutter brothers headed their correspondence with the Gaelic motto: ‘Fioghinn agus soir Bhunanghadh,’ meaning ‘full and excellent quality.’ They also used a castle as a trademark, which may originate from their family crest.
William and James were entrepreneurial (and described as ‘colourful’) merchants who wanted to scale the production. They invested in developing the distillery to make it more suited for larger commercial production. This was a reflection of the increasing interest in blended Scotch, and the new production setup allowed the Mutter brothers to satisfy the new demand.
As part of the expansion, the brothers needed more water. They commissioned Irish navigators and their distillery employees to dig a lade (a channel carrying the current) to draw water from the nearby River Laggan. This water source runs over some of the oldest rocks of Scotland, and is still in use today. The brothers also purchased a steam ship to transport the expanded production.
After 50 years of ownership, the Mutter brothers sold the company to the Sherriff family.
THE VISIONARY
STANLEY P. MORRISON
1963 - 1994
In 1963, Stanley P. Morrison purchased the distillery from William Grigor & Sons Ltd. The purchase was pure opportunism on the part of Stanley, and very fortuitous for the whisky.
On 17th July 1963, Stanley met his stockbroker for lunch at the old Malmaison restaurant in Glasgow and overheard two lawyers talking about the sale of the Bowmore Distillery. He excused himself from the table and called the widow of William Grigor, Kay, who was about to sell the distillery to a Spanish spirits group.
Stanley convinced her to keep it in Scottish hands, and she sold him the distillery for £117,000. ‘We bought the brand at zero recognition, so the right time to buy,’ Stanley P. Morrison’s son, Stanley Walker Morrison, remembers.
Of the many owners of Bowmore, Stanley resembled David Simson, as he was both entrepreneurial and engaged in multiple businesses – the Morrison family being involved in other ventures in the hospitality industry (predominately golf).
For some time the Morrison family continued to trade with the Sherriff name, until they renamed it Morrison Bowmore Distillery in 1977 – later Morrison Bowmore Distillers in 1987.
Under the leadership of Morrison, Bowmore took international centre stage as a single malt. This required substantial investment in the distillery, and a programme to age stocks of the finest Malt whisky. Thus malts at 10, 12, 17, 21, 25, 30 and 40 years became regular items. The Morrisons took the distillery into the modern day by installing electronic monitoring equipment.
During the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Stanley P. Morrison established a relationship with Suntory Ltd., which eventually led to Suntory buying Bowmore in 1994.
On 17th July 1963, Stanley met his stockbroker for lunch at the old Malmaison restaurant in Glasgow and overheard two lawyers talking about the sale of the Bowmore Distillery. He excused himself from the table and called the widow of William Grigor, Kay, who was about to sell the distillery to a Spanish spirits group.
Stanley convinced her to keep it in Scottish hands, and she sold him the distillery for £117,000. ‘We bought the brand at zero recognition, so the right time to buy,’ Stanley P. Morrison’s son, Stanley Walker Morrison, remembers.
Of the many owners of Bowmore, Stanley resembled David Simson, as he was both entrepreneurial and engaged in multiple businesses – the Morrison family being involved in other ventures in the hospitality industry (predominately golf).
For some time the Morrison family continued to trade with the Sherriff name, until they renamed it Morrison Bowmore Distillery in 1977 – later Morrison Bowmore Distillers in 1987.
Under the leadership of Morrison, Bowmore took international centre stage as a single malt. This required substantial investment in the distillery, and a programme to age stocks of the finest Malt whisky. Thus malts at 10, 12, 17, 21, 25, 30 and 40 years became regular items. The Morrisons took the distillery into the modern day by installing electronic monitoring equipment.
During the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Stanley P. Morrison established a relationship with Suntory Ltd., which eventually led to Suntory buying Bowmore in 1994.
JOHN BELL SHERRIFF
1887 - 1890, AND AGAIN 1925 - 1950
After 50 years of owning Bowmore Distillery, economic depression saw a drop in demand for whisky, leading the Mutter Brothers to sell the distillery to John Bell Sherriff of Campbeltown.
John was a whisky broker and purchased the distillery predominantly for blends. Most of the distillery output was used for blends. It was then sold to Joseph Robert Holmes in 1892.
Later, in 1925, John Bell Sherriff bought Bowmore Distillery for a second time and renamed it Sherriff’s Bowmore Distillery. During the second World War, little whisky was produced, and the distillery was requisitioned by the Air Ministry to be used as an operations centre for coastal command.
The distillery played host to the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force with their famous Sunderland flying boat aircraft. In March 1943, the island endured one of its worst storms in history and the crewmen had to battle for 11 days to save their planes from disaster.
The John Bell Sherriff Company occasionally became preoccupied with other interests. For many years it had invested in rum as well as whisky and also in coffee production. It owned Long Pond Estate in Jamaica.
John was a whisky broker and purchased the distillery predominantly for blends. Most of the distillery output was used for blends. It was then sold to Joseph Robert Holmes in 1892.
Later, in 1925, John Bell Sherriff bought Bowmore Distillery for a second time and renamed it Sherriff’s Bowmore Distillery. During the second World War, little whisky was produced, and the distillery was requisitioned by the Air Ministry to be used as an operations centre for coastal command.
The distillery played host to the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force with their famous Sunderland flying boat aircraft. In March 1943, the island endured one of its worst storms in history and the crewmen had to battle for 11 days to save their planes from disaster.
The John Bell Sherriff Company occasionally became preoccupied with other interests. For many years it had invested in rum as well as whisky and also in coffee production. It owned Long Pond Estate in Jamaica.
JOSEPH ROBERT HOLMES
1892 - 1925
In 1892, Joseph Robert Holmes of the London Consortium purchased the Bowmore Distillery. He had made a small fortune from the patenting of a naval lamp for use in emergencies.
Joseph divided his time between his affairs in London and the distillery on Islay.
When in Bowmore, Joseph could often be seen riding around town on a fine white horse named Prince. Prince was a muscular steed, and when he wasn’t carrying Joseph, he applied his strength to hauling barley.
Joseph Holmes was a visionary individual who, as early as 1901, proposed the bottling of Bowmore malt whisky, under bond, in a distillery warehouse.
Unfortunately the project never came to fruition.
Joseph divided his time between his affairs in London and the distillery on Islay.
When in Bowmore, Joseph could often be seen riding around town on a fine white horse named Prince. Prince was a muscular steed, and when he wasn’t carrying Joseph, he applied his strength to hauling barley.
Joseph Holmes was a visionary individual who, as early as 1901, proposed the bottling of Bowmore malt whisky, under bond, in a distillery warehouse.
Unfortunately the project never came to fruition.
DAVIE BELL
1950 - 1963
Davie Bell was born in Aberfoyle in 1898.
Davie first served as an apprentice cooper at Lowrie’s cooperage in Glasgow. His time there was interrupted by service in the first world war.
He settled on Islay in 1933, and four years later, he joined the Bowmore Distillery as a cooper. Jim McEwan, who trained under Davie in 1963, remembers Davie’s motto: “Dae it right, Jimmy; there's nae bugger coming behind you,” (Evening Standard, 2001).
Davie eventually left Bowmore in 1974 – but he didn’t break ties with the distillery completely. He so loved the company of his Bowmore friends that he could often be seen visiting the distillery even in his 90s. Two years after he finished working, the Bowmore cooperage closed.
Davie survived several ownerships of the Bowmore Distillery, and he lived to be 95.
Davie first served as an apprentice cooper at Lowrie’s cooperage in Glasgow. His time there was interrupted by service in the first world war.
He settled on Islay in 1933, and four years later, he joined the Bowmore Distillery as a cooper. Jim McEwan, who trained under Davie in 1963, remembers Davie’s motto: “Dae it right, Jimmy; there's nae bugger coming behind you,” (Evening Standard, 2001).
Davie eventually left Bowmore in 1974 – but he didn’t break ties with the distillery completely. He so loved the company of his Bowmore friends that he could often be seen visiting the distillery even in his 90s. Two years after he finished working, the Bowmore cooperage closed.
Davie survived several ownerships of the Bowmore Distillery, and he lived to be 95.
EDDIE MACAFFER
Eddie MacAffer was born at his grandmother’s house in 1948 – just around the corner from the Bowmore Distillery.
Eddie joined the Merchant Navy, travelling between Greenock, Jamaica, and British Guiana with cargoes of sugar.
In May 1966 came the British Seaman’s Strike, and Eddie returned home to Islay to wait it out. With little money, and lots of time on his hands, he was looking for something to do.
Eddie approached the manager of the Bowmore Distillery at the time, James McColl, and asked him for work. His first job was cleaning out the drains at the back of warehouse No. 1, and he went on to gain valuable experience in many areas of the whisky making process.
Throughout his time at Bowmore, Eddie’s duties included Head Warehouseman, Head Maltman, Brewer, Head Distiller and then Distillery Manager. He planned to retire in 2013, but was convinced to stay on as Master Distiller for three more years with David Turner stepping up as Distillery Manager.
He finally retired in 2016 after fifty years of dedication and craftsmanship. His knowledge and passion has now been passed on to the next generation of craftsmen and Bowmore ambassadors.
Eddie joined the Merchant Navy, travelling between Greenock, Jamaica, and British Guiana with cargoes of sugar.
In May 1966 came the British Seaman’s Strike, and Eddie returned home to Islay to wait it out. With little money, and lots of time on his hands, he was looking for something to do.
Eddie approached the manager of the Bowmore Distillery at the time, James McColl, and asked him for work. His first job was cleaning out the drains at the back of warehouse No. 1, and he went on to gain valuable experience in many areas of the whisky making process.
Throughout his time at Bowmore, Eddie’s duties included Head Warehouseman, Head Maltman, Brewer, Head Distiller and then Distillery Manager. He planned to retire in 2013, but was convinced to stay on as Master Distiller for three more years with David Turner stepping up as Distillery Manager.
He finally retired in 2016 after fifty years of dedication and craftsmanship. His knowledge and passion has now been passed on to the next generation of craftsmen and Bowmore ambassadors.
Place
ISLAY OUR ISLAND HOME
THE ISLAND OF ISLAY
Islay is believed to have been inhabited as early as 7500BC, when settlers came to the island as fishermen and hunters after the last Ice Age.
Much later, the island was purchased by Daniel Campbell the Great, who was an MP in the city of Glasgow. In 1725, Daniel voted in favour of a malt tax, resulting in his house being looted and damaged by a mob. As compensation, the government gave him £9,000 with which he bought Islay.
Daniel’s grandson, Daniel Campbell the Younger, inherited Islay in 1753, aged 16. It was Daniel who allowed David Simson to build a distillery in Bowmore, and the earliest records show that in 1779 Bowmore whisky was sold from the same location as today.
The island's natural resources – fertile soil and soft, peaty water – mixed with sea breezes and traditional distilling processes, produce the most easily distinguishable of all malt whiskies.
Much later, the island was purchased by Daniel Campbell the Great, who was an MP in the city of Glasgow. In 1725, Daniel voted in favour of a malt tax, resulting in his house being looted and damaged by a mob. As compensation, the government gave him £9,000 with which he bought Islay.
Daniel’s grandson, Daniel Campbell the Younger, inherited Islay in 1753, aged 16. It was Daniel who allowed David Simson to build a distillery in Bowmore, and the earliest records show that in 1779 Bowmore whisky was sold from the same location as today.
The island's natural resources – fertile soil and soft, peaty water – mixed with sea breezes and traditional distilling processes, produce the most easily distinguishable of all malt whiskies.
THE VILLAGE OF BOWMORE
The village of Bowmore has a scenic setting overlooking the Western waters of Islay. The first purpose-built city in Scotland, it was ideally positioned for fishing and agriculture, Many people moved to Bowmore from Kilarrow for this reason, including our founder David Simson.
Bowmore is famous for the Round Church, built-in 1767 as part of Laird Daniel Campbell the Younger’s effort to develop Bowmore and make it the island’s central town. The rounded shape of the church was deliberate, built without corners where Satan could hide.
The name Bowmore is a blend of Norse and Gaelic, making it difficult to trace its origin and derive an exact meaning. While the etymology of the name is lost in translation, it speaks to the ‘Black Reef’ – a reef just outside Lochindaal, the scene of many shipwrecks. Other interpretations of the name include: ‘Great Reef’, ‘Big Rock’ and ‘Sunken Rock’.
Bowmore is famous for the Round Church, built-in 1767 as part of Laird Daniel Campbell the Younger’s effort to develop Bowmore and make it the island’s central town. The rounded shape of the church was deliberate, built without corners where Satan could hide.
The name Bowmore is a blend of Norse and Gaelic, making it difficult to trace its origin and derive an exact meaning. While the etymology of the name is lost in translation, it speaks to the ‘Black Reef’ – a reef just outside Lochindaal, the scene of many shipwrecks. Other interpretations of the name include: ‘Great Reef’, ‘Big Rock’ and ‘Sunken Rock’.
THE NO.1 VAULTS
Bowmore is Islay’s oldest distillery, and home to the world’s oldest whisky maturation warehouse, the No. 1 Vaults, where our whisky has been matured for over 240 years.
The warehouse is positioned in such a way that the outer wall faces the Lochindaal – a sea loch opening out into the Atlantic Ocean.
While there are several levels within the old warehouse, the Vaults are on the lower level, predominately at the back towards the sea-facing wall. This wall gets sprayed by the ocean, and the salty mist seeps in.
The ambient temperature and good moisture levels in the Vaults are consistent, making it an ideal place to age casks – where there is a quick depreciation in strength (1-1.5% evaporation per year) in the casks, creating a fruitier character in the whisky.
Bowmore Distillery’s proximity to the sea plays a role in determining the final character and flavour profile of our spirit.
The warehouse is positioned in such a way that the outer wall faces the Lochindaal – a sea loch opening out into the Atlantic Ocean.
While there are several levels within the old warehouse, the Vaults are on the lower level, predominately at the back towards the sea-facing wall. This wall gets sprayed by the ocean, and the salty mist seeps in.
The ambient temperature and good moisture levels in the Vaults are consistent, making it an ideal place to age casks – where there is a quick depreciation in strength (1-1.5% evaporation per year) in the casks, creating a fruitier character in the whisky.
Bowmore Distillery’s proximity to the sea plays a role in determining the final character and flavour profile of our spirit.
Liquid
House Style Liquid
THE ORIGIN OF ISLAY WHISKY
The Bowmore liquid is multidimensional:
A fuller, richer and fruitier flavor – rooted in the rock floor malting and the wood of the Bourbon and Sherry Casks.
As an Islay whisky, the complex balance of elements (peat, fruit notes and minerality) is the signature Bowmore profile:
A profile that develops over time, and in every nosing and sip.
Therefore, the Bowmore Style is best described as,
A fuller, richer and fruitier flavor – rooted in the rock floor malting and the wood of the Bourbon and Sherry Casks.
As an Islay whisky, the complex balance of elements (peat, fruit notes and minerality) is the signature Bowmore profile:
A profile that develops over time, and in every nosing and sip.
Therefore, the Bowmore Style is best described as,
"A complex balance of Islay smokiness, maritime minerality, with an abundance of fresh stone fruit notes."
OUR STYLE
Bowmore whisky differs from other (Islay) distillers in three significant ways:
1. FLOOR MALTING
(more quantity than others)
This is hand-turned in periods between 5-7 days depending on seasons (hotter weather requires less time). In the kilning process, the younger fibrous peat is used (as the vegetal profile will give it a more smoky profile, as opposed to the older peat which yields a thicker, oilier profile). The kilning process is slow (much like the floor malting process), and uses a ‘warm smoke’ to enrich the malt further. It is the floor malting process that starts to develop the fruitier notes.
This is hand-turned in periods between 5-7 days depending on seasons (hotter weather requires less time). In the kilning process, the younger fibrous peat is used (as the vegetal profile will give it a more smoky profile, as opposed to the older peat which yields a thicker, oilier profile). The kilning process is slow (much like the floor malting process), and uses a ‘warm smoke’ to enrich the malt further. It is the floor malting process that starts to develop the fruitier notes.
2. FERMENTATION
(66 hours – clear wort and wooden wash backs)
Bowmore takes time to ferment using clear wort and a blend of yeasts to draw out the fruiter notes that started to develop in the floor malting process. You can detect notes of banana in the fermentation stage. Using old wooden wash back tanks also gives flavour notes to the young liquid.
Bowmore takes time to ferment using clear wort and a blend of yeasts to draw out the fruiter notes that started to develop in the floor malting process. You can detect notes of banana in the fermentation stage. Using old wooden wash back tanks also gives flavour notes to the young liquid.
3. A HIGH AMOUNT OF FIRST-FILL CASKS
(of higher quality)
Over time Bowmore has invested in top-quality casks (both first-fill European oak barrels, ex-bourbon barrels, and Sherry casks). From the sherry cask, the whisky gets its oak spices and dried fruits. From the bourbon, vanilla, and citrus notes.
The No. 1 Vault has an ambient, humid and consistent temperature which makes alcohol evaporate faster – bringing out the fruitier notes faster than anywhere else in the warehouse.
Over time Bowmore has invested in top-quality casks (both first-fill European oak barrels, ex-bourbon barrels, and Sherry casks). From the sherry cask, the whisky gets its oak spices and dried fruits. From the bourbon, vanilla, and citrus notes.
The No. 1 Vault has an ambient, humid and consistent temperature which makes alcohol evaporate faster – bringing out the fruitier notes faster than anywhere else in the warehouse.
OUR PORTFOLIO
NOTABLE CHANGES IN THE WHISKY STYLE
1950S-1960S: THE GREATEST WHISKY OF ALL TIME
The Bowmore casks from the 1950s and 60s have been described as ‘the greatest whisky of all time’.
1980S-1990S: POTENT FLORAL AROMA
Casks from the 1980s to 1990s developed a sharp floral aroma, described by a whisky blogger as ‘French whore perfume’ (FWP). This was a result of the distillery running at maximum capacity (over capacity), thus overheating the stills, creating the potent aroma. This FWP aroma was present in the 1982 – 1991 casks. A ‘love it or hate it’ attribute of the whisky from that era.
Experience
THE FIRST SIP
THE ORIGIN OF ISLAY WHISKY
Bowmore is best enjoyed neat and on the rocks to fully appreciate the complex balance of Islay smokiness, maritime minerality, with an abundance of fresh stone fruit notes.
‘The complexity comes from the balance between the different elements. When each are in balance you get a different aroma every time you put your nose in the glass with peat smoke appearing, then being replaced by fruit and then minerality, and all combinations in between. Without the balance, the complexity is lost’
‘The complexity comes from the balance between the different elements. When each are in balance you get a different aroma every time you put your nose in the glass with peat smoke appearing, then being replaced by fruit and then minerality, and all combinations in between. Without the balance, the complexity is lost’
‘The Original Islay Malt: A timeless, complex balance of smoke, minerality and fruity notes’
-Ron Welsh, Master Blender
Personality
THE ORIGINAL TRUE ISLANDERS
PIONEERING
The pioneering character of Bowmore stems from the entrepreneurial spirits of so many of its previous owners. Bowmore pioneered the export of whisky to mainland Scotland and, being the first distillery on Islay, played a key role in establishing and opening up the island as a whisky destination.
ANCHORED/GROUNDED
Bowmore is confident and anchored/grounded in its rich heritage of whisky making – still located in the exact same spot on Islay island where it all began back in 1779, still using traditional methods.
BENEVOLENT
Our founder, David Simson, was a good-natured man who wanted to do things right and bring honest malt whisky to the people of Scotland – no unlicensed distilling, no avoiding fees. That’s how Bowmore became the first licensed distillery on Islay.
