Bowmore
Islay's oldest distillery, with a softer smoke than that of the south coast. Everything about the 12, 15 and 18 Years, the flavor and the right glass to serve it in.
Islay's oldest distillery
Bowmore has stood on Loch Indaal, in the village of the same name, since 1779, making it Islay's oldest distillery. It is also one of the few in Scotland that still has its own maltings: some of the barley is germinated on the floor and dried over peat fires, just as was done everywhere in the past.
Bowmore's smoke is pronounced, but less heavy than that of the distilleries on the south coast. Beneath it lies another layer rarely found so distinctly in other Islay whiskies: tropical fruit, mango and peach, especially in the older bottlings. The oldest casks are stored in No. 1 Vaults, a warehouse whose floor lies below sea level and whose walls meet the surf.
In brief
What types of Bowmore are there?
Bowmore 12 Years
The house’s signature expression: smoke, lemon, and sea salt with honey underneath. More approachable than heavily peated Islay whiskies.
Bowmore 9 Years
Younger and prominently aged in sherry casks. Smoke with dried fruit and chocolate; a good introductory bottle.
Bowmore 15 Years
Twelve years in ex-bourbon casks, followed by three years in Oloroso sherry casks. Dark, full-bodied, and sweet, with smoke and dried fruit.
Bowmore 18 Years
Eighteen years, during which the smoke has receded and the tropical fruit comes forward. Mango, dark chocolate, and soft peat.
Bowmore 21 Years Sherry Cask
Aged for twenty-one years in sherry casks and bottled at 46.8%. The bottle for anyone who wants the whole picture: smoke, sherry, and ripe fruit all in one.
The 12 Years is the obvious first bottle; the 15 is the next step up.
Smoke, sea salt, and tropical fruit
Peat smoke & sea air
Peat smoke with sea salt and lemon peel, followed by honey and a hint of tropical fruit. Less tarry than Islay’s south coast.
Rounded and slightly salty
Smoke and sea salt up front, with honey, citrus, and a sweet core. The sherry casks add dried fruit and chocolate.
Long and briny
A long finish with smoke, salt, and a hint of sweetness. Warm rather than sharp.
Bowmore 12 Years flavor profile. The 15 and 9 are sweeter thanks to the sherry; the 21 packs more punch. For comparison: Lagavulin scores 5/5 for smokiness.
Three ways to drink Bowmore
Bowmore is the most approachable of the peated Islay whiskies, making it the only one you can also comfortably mix.
Neat at room temperature
4 cl in a tulip-shaped tasting glass. Let it rest for a minute before nosing: smoke comes first, then sea salt, and only then the honey and fruit underneath.
Glass: tasting glass →With a few drops of water
Two to three drops of cold water open up the whisky and bring the smoke slightly into the background. It makes a noticeable difference, especially with the 21 Years at 46.8%.
Glass: tasting glass →As Penicillin
50 ml blended whisky with lemon and honey-ginger syrup, shaken and strained, topped with a 10 ml float of Bowmore 12. Bowmore’s milder smoke works better here than a heavily peated Islay whisky.
Penicillin recipe →Cocktails with Bowmore
Using peated whisky in a cocktail is all about dosage: a float or a small portion of the base is enough.
Penicillin
Whisky, lemon, honey, and ginger with a smoky float on top.
Smoky Old Fashioned
Whisky, sugar, and bitters over a large ice cube, with some peated whisky.
Smoky Sour
Whisky, lemon, sugar, and egg white. The smoke gives the sour depth.
Hot Toddy
Whisky with hot water, honey, lemon, and cloves. Smoke and honey go well together.The right glass for Bowmore
A tulip-shaped tasting glass gathers the smoke and fruit beneath the rim; a heavy tumbler is for on the rocks. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything else you wanted to know about Bowmore
Can’t find your question here? Browse our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
View the cocktail recipes →What is the alcohol percentage of Bowmore?
Is Bowmore very smoky?
What is the difference between Bowmore 12 and 15?
Does Bowmore have its own maltings?
What is No. 1 Vaults?
What goes well with Bowmore?
Buy Bowmore
Want the bottle delivered straight to your door? Order Bowmore online from Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 11 available, 3 of which are on sale.
Prices as of November 3, 2026, as reported by Gall & Gall. You can check the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; it costs you nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
