Bowmore distillery
History
Bowmore is the oldest licensed distillery on the Scottish island of Islay. Founded in 1779 by Islay merchant John Simson, it has developed a reputation for its rich, fruity, smoky single malts over the centuries. The distillery was originally given a land grant, where the barley for the whisky would be grown. Indeed, it maintains this tradition until today, being one of the few distilleries to malt its own Islay barley. The distillery has a colourful history; it was used as an airbase during World War Two and visited by Queen Elizabeth II in 1980. As well as honouring its traditional roots, the distillery has modernised and expanded significantly since 1963, upon being bought by Glasgow whisky broker Stanley P. Morrison.
Technology
Bowmore honours its heritage, crafting distinctive malts in traditional ways. The Bowmore style, characterised by peat smoke, saline and sweet notes, is achieved by its particular production process. The distillery is one of the few remaining in Scotland to operate its own malting floor. Its malting barn has three floors, where the germinating barley is turned every four hours for about a week. After this, the grain is moved to the kilns, where peat smoke is applied. Bowmore’s peat comes from the Gartbreck moor, southwest of the distillery. Another important element that determines the distinctive Bowmore tastes is its casks. Here, Bowmore shows innovation and craft with its range of specially treated casks, from rare Japanese oak to different sweet wine casks that contribute to the richness of these whiskies.
