company logo

Bowmore

Distillery & Brand
Bowmore, Isle of Islay, Argyll, Scotland

Whiskies (4,270)

4,270 Bowmore whiskies are currently listed on Whiskybase.

Highest rated whiskies

About Bowmore

Founded in 1779, Bowmore is Islay’s oldest licensed distillery. It retains traditional floor maltings that supply about 40% of its barley. Bowmore’s “No. 1 Vaults” are partially below sea level and exposed to sea breeze. They are among the oldest maturation warehouses in Scotland, and certainly among the most famous.

Quick Facts

Region Islay
Country Scotland

Timeline

William & James Mutter

1887

No production during the Second World War.

1939

William Grigor & Sons Ltd.

1950

Extensive renovation
Part of the renovation has been that the heating of the stills changed to an indirect steam heating.

1963

A warehouse changed to a swimming pool
The pool is heated by the heat of the distillery.

1990

Suntory

1994

Joseph Robert Holmes

1925

Production resumes

1945

Stanley P. Morrison Ltd.

1963

New name: Morrison Bowmore

1987

The steel wash back has been replaced by a wooden one.

1990

Timeline

1887

William & James Mutter

1925

Joseph Robert Holmes

1939

No production during the Second World War.

1945

Production resumes

1950

William Grigor & Sons Ltd.

1963

Stanley P. Morrison Ltd.

1963

Extensive renovation
Part of the renovation has been that the heating of the stills changed to an indirect steam heating.

1987

New name: Morrison Bowmore

1990

A warehouse changed to a swimming pool
The pool is heated by the heat of the distillery.

1990

The steel wash back has been replaced by a wooden one.

1994

Suntory

Distillery Details

Capacity ~2MLPA
Water Source River Laggan via a lade
Distillation Type Pot stills
Whisky Produced Single Malt Scotch
Maltings on Site Yes
Maltings Type Floor maltings
Kiln Fuel Peat
Malt Mill Porteus malt mill
Mash Tun Capacity ~40,000L
Mash Tun Material Stainless steel
Mash Tun Type semi-Lauter tun
Number of Washbacks 6
Washback Capacity ~40,000L
Washback Material Douglas fir / Oregon pine wood
Washbacks (Open/ Closed) Open
Yeast Type 25% Kerry, 75% Mauri
Fermentation Time ~48-70hours
Wash Stills 2
Wash Still Material Copper
Wash Still Shape Pear-shaped
Wash Still Capacity ~30,940L
Wash Still Filling Level 65%
Wash Still Heating Steam coils, pans from oil-fired steam boiler
Spirit Stills 2
Spirit Stills Material Copper
Spirit Stills Shape Pear-shaped
Spirit Still Type Traditional pot stills
Spirit Still Capacity ~14,250L
Spirit Still Heating Steam coils from boiler
Condensor Type Shell-and-tube
Maturation on Site? Yes
Warehouse Type 2 dunnage, 1 racked
Warehouses Capacity ~23,000 casks
New Make Strength ~69.2% ABV
Cask filling strength 63.5%
Bottling on Site No

Whiskybase logoWhiskybase

Build and track your whisky collection, rate and review bottles, check prices, and engage with like-minded enthusiasts. All things whisky since 2007.

Become a Supporter 

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Whiskybase B.V.
Zwaanshals 530
3035 KS Rotterdam
The Netherlands 


KVK: 60207205
VAT: NL853809112B01