Bowmore distillery
History
Founded in 1779 by Islay merchant John Simson, Bowmore is the oldest licensed distillery on the Scottish island of Islay. It has developed its particular brand of hand-crafted whiskies over the centuries, mixing tradition with innovation. In 1837, a local family of German descent called the Mutters purchased distillery, and built the lade, which draws water from the River Laggan. As well as this, the Mutters introduced many other innovations and even built their own steam ship to import and export barley, coal and whisky to and from the mainland. After the Mutters, the distillery passed through the hands of multiple owners, each expanding and honing the operation. Production was stopped during World War Two, when it was used as an airbase. In 1993, the coveted Black Bowmore Trilogy was released.
Technology
Bowmore handcrafts its malts using traditional methods. The distillery is one of the few remaining in Scotland to use its own barley and operate its own malting floor. It uses peat, a fossil fuel from ancient organic matter, from the nearby Gartbreck moor in its production, Peat is burned to stimulate the malting process and its salty, smoky quality fuses with the malt to give it a distinct flavour. The specially crafted wood casks of Japanese oak, or old sweet wine casks, that are used for maturation also add to the richness of flavour. Bowmore boasts the world's oldest working whisky maturation warehouse, and some of its vaults date back to the origins of the company, in 1779.
