The
second oldest distillery in Scotland, and the oldest on Islay,
Bowmore is one of the most prestigious in all of Scotland
and producer of one of the world's broadest and most distinctive
ranges of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies. Bowmore Distillery
has been perched boldly at the edge of the rugged Hebridean
Island of Islay since 1779.
This distillery's location on this dramatic, wind-swept isle
has been integral in determining the legendary smoky, rich character
of the fine single malt scotch whiskies it crafts.
The distinctive character of Bowmore's world-revered range of
single malts is the result of a stubborn adherence to time-honored
tradition, imbedded in the land and people of the Island of
Islay.
Bowmore Single Malt is produced using the pure waters from the
nearby Laggan River -- waters that have spent 2,000 years percolating
through the ancient rock of the hills of Islay. As the river
flows to the Distillery, it gathers the flavors of the rich
Islay peat that then fires the malt-drying kiln. One of the
only distilleries that has maintained the tradition of malting
its own barley, Morrison Bowmore's maltman hand-turns the barley
with a traditional wooden malt shovel -- exactly as his father,
grandfather and great-grandfather did before him.
The
final character of the Bowmore Single Malts is developed in
the famous seaside vaults, where their whiskies spend anywhere
from 12 to 40 years. There the Bowmore Single Malts rest quietly
below sea level in the finest Spanish and American oak casks,
maturing to perfection with the help of the salty, sea-laden
air.
Bowmore
12 Year
Color: Amber
Nose: More salt, seaweed
and smoke than at 10 years.
Flavor: Medium. Lightly
syrupy.
Finish: Remarkably long
and salty.
Bowmore
Mariner Single Malt Scotch
15 Year
Color: Copper
w/ golden highlights
Body: Medium and very
smooth.
Nose: Intriguing aromas
of green apples, mature oak, chocolate & caramel,
balanced by a distinct peaty, Atlantic flavor.
Palate: Wonderful oak
and malt, followed by sweet/fruity flavors with peaty
undertones.
Finish: Smooth and mellow.
Bowmore
17 Year
Color: Full
Amber
Nose: Full and well-balanced,
with some smoke and mild sweetness
Body: Full
Palate: Complex, with
peat, some sweetness, salt and citrus notes
Finish: Lingering,
with a light touch of smoke and sweetness
Bowmore
Darkest
Single Malt Scotch
Color: Ruby
Red
Body: Full and brawny
Palate: Rich and dard
with sublte sweetness
Nose: More salt, seaweed
and smoke than at 10 years.
Finish: Very soft with
a slow warmth.
Bowmore
Dawn
Single Malt Scotch
Body: Full
Finish: Huge, long smoky
finish
Palate: Grapes, plums,
fig-rolls and blackcurrant, delightfully balanced with
peat smoke and marine notes
Bowmore
Dusk
Single Malt Scotch
Color: Polished
teak
Body: Medium-weighted.
Nose: A complex and
compelling range of aromas -- apricots, honeydew melon,
claret, sea spray and peat fires.
Palate: Claret flavors
first, then peat, dark chocolate, licorice, peach, Caribbean
brown sugar and tangerine.
Tour Frequency
Winter: 10:30am & 2:30pm
Summer: 10.30am, 11.30am, 2pm & 3pm. Saturdays: 10:30am
Rest of Year: Weekdays only at 10:30am & 2pm.
Getting There: If travelling down Main Street,
make a left at the bottom of the hill before you reach the
sea. When approaching from Brigend along Shore Street, cross
the Main Street and you can't miss it.
Parking / Reception: Enter via the main gates
and veer right to park at the sea wall. Return to reception.
There is no warmer reception than from Christine Logan and
her team, Evelyn and Wilma, in the combined reception and
shop. You get caught up in the warmth and fun. You move to
the hospitality room with its glorious view over Loch Indaal.
Maximium Group Size: 15
Cost: £2.00. Seniors £1. Redeemable
in the shop. Under 18 - Free.
Group Bookings: By appointment with reception.
Enquiries: Call 01496 810441
Photography in Distillery: Yes
Disabled Access: Designated disabled parking
spaces are available. This tour is ideal for the disabled
visitor - flat or gentle slope except for a few steps to the
maltings and the hospitality room. In each case there are
willing hands to overcome these obstacles. Blind visitors
get a great welcome here.
Foreign Visitors: Some guides speak foreign
languages. Good guide books available in shop for £3.95.
Comments on this Whisky page 1 of 1
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Joanne Bergstrom, Editor
Posted 61 days ago
Try ebay (if it's allowed), mctears.com or bonhams.com (auctioneers) Good luck!
GM
Posted 62 days ago
Hi. I have a bottle in its case of 1957 Bowmore Islay Single Malt and am looking for advise for the best location to sell. Any advise would be appreciated. Thank you Glen gm@glenm.net
ICUPhysician
Posted 128 days ago
an Islay single malt, very interesting… not quite as peaty as Laphroaig… really quite a bit lighter and friendlier for my relatively uneducated American palate. There is definitely a sweet finish maybe owing to sherry casking… although it is very light in the glass. Very pleasing overall despite a somewhat iodine character to the early nose. The saltiness is such that you can smell the sea breeze at first sip which lightens up as the ice takes hold of the dram.
Jason Fahringer
Posted 242 days ago
I got a bottle of Bowmore Legend. For the price, 18$ in PA, it is pretty good.
Yank
Posted 444 days ago
I couldn't hear what the "the calibrated tongue" was saying from where his head was located, he must have been tasting the "atmosphere". I have been drinking Bourbons for many years untill a friend introduced me the the Whiskys if Islay. I find Bushmills to be plain but good in a "middle of the road" kind of way. I'm sipping a measure of Bowmore 12 now. I prepare it with a few drops of spring water to release the aromas( no ice). This is a good whisky. It is balanced and the peat doesn't knock you down or distort your face as does some of the other Islay whiskys. Warm and smoky and rich with a hint of honey and citrus. Finish is long and delightful. In fact, flavors linger for quite a while in a light mint feel on the tongue. Superb.
Powderhound
Posted 449 days ago
I may not have the most distinguished palate, but I';ve enjoyed my bottle of Bowmore. I found it worth the $40 I spent.
Romano De Bertolli
Posted 474 days ago
Granted, the Bowmore may not weave the rich tapestry we expect form Lord Arbeg, but the Islay geography is in every drop."
Michael Seven
Posted 483 days ago
I guess the fact I like to smoke a good cigar with Bowman makes this an ideal whisky for me.
The Calibrated Tongue
Posted 502 days ago
If you ever thought you'd enjoy drinking liquid cigars, this one is for you. There's no complexity here. Overwhelmingly banal. It tastes the way a mental depression might taste if you could pour that psychological state across your tongue.
Joanne Bergstrom, Editor
Posted 697 days ago
Bowmore 18 year - lots of smoke, spice. Intense floral with hints of chocolate. Complex.
The
second oldest distillery in Scotland, and the oldest on Islay,
Bowmore is one of the most prestigious in all of Scotland
and producer of one of the world's broadest and most distinctive
ranges of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies. Bowmore Distillery
has been perched boldly at the edge of the rugged Hebridean
Island of Islay since 1779. 
The
final character of the Bowmore Single Malts is developed in
the famous seaside vaults, where their whiskies spend anywhere
from 12 to 40 years. There the Bowmore Single Malts rest quietly
below sea level in the finest Spanish and American oak casks,
maturing to perfection with the help of the salty, sea-laden
air. 
Any advise would be appreciated.
Thank you
Glen
gm@glenm.net