IslayAn island off western Scotland famous for smoky whisky, its barley dried over peat.
PeatThe smoky note from drying barley over burning peat. Bowmore is lighter and more balanced than Ardbeg.
No.1 VaultsThe oldest warehouse, in use since 1779; below sea level, it is held to take on a maritime character.
Black BowmoreA legendary vintage distilled in 1964 — a collector icon that fetches huge sums at auction.
Range & Collections
12yoPeat smoke with sea salt and honey. A well-balanced way into Islay.
15yo (Darkest)A sherry-cask finish adds dark chocolate and dried fruit — a popular line.
18yoDeeper smoke, fruit and oak in a premium bottling.
25yo · AgedSoftened by long maturation — the collector end.
Black Bowmore · LimitedLegendary, ultra-premium releases such as the 1964 vintage.
Value by AgeData-based2026.6 as of
12yoCore · entry~£45
15yoSherry finish~£75
18yoAged premium~£130
★ Black Bowmore 1964Auction collector icon · A legendary vintage£10,000+
The 1964-distilled Black Bowmore is a whisky-auction legend, trading in the tens of thousands of pounds a bottle. Its standing as Islay's oldest distillery (1779) and the aged spirit ripening in the below-sea-level No.1 Vaults underpin its collector value.
Prices are approximate retail / duty-free · Auction prices highly volatile · Not a personal tasting score
How It’s Made
Bowmore uses Islay's signature peat smoke but chooses balance rather than pushing it as far as Ardbeg. Its signature is sea salt beneath the smoke, with a sweetness of tropical fruit and sherry running through. The spirit ripens in the below-sea-level No.1 Vaults, in use since 1779, said to add a salty, maritime air.
Islay's oldestFounded in 1779, it is the oldest distillery on Islay and one of the oldest in Scotland.
Balanced peatUnlike Ardbeg's heavy peat, Bowmore's grain is a balance of smoke with sea salt, tropical fruit and sherry.
Ageing below sea levelThe oldest No.1 Vaults sits below sea level, lending the salty, maritime note it is known for.
Own maltingIt still floor-malts some of its own barley on site.
History
Founded in 1779 in the village of Bowmore, it is the oldest distillery on the island. Over its long history, the 1964-distilled Black Bowmore became an auction legend; today it operates under Beam Suntory (formerly Morrison Bowmore).
How It’s Drunk
In the US and UK, Bowmore is often recommended as 'a good way into Islay'. For drinkers who find Ardbeg's heavy peat too much, its balance of smoke and sweetness acts as a bridge. It suits those who want to get to know peat in a glass that isn't too rugged.
◆The Right GlassSignature
Peat scatters easily, so a tulip glass — a Glencairn or copita — that gathers it is the standard. The 12 and 15 are around 40%, fine neat, with a drop of water opening the fruit beneath the smoke. With aromas this strong, keep perfume and cigarettes away and take it slow.
