Bowmore is an Islay single malt Scotch whisky distillery founded in 1779 in the village of Bowmore on the Isle of Islay — making it the oldest licensed Islay distillery and one of the oldest licensed Scotch single malt distilleries in continuous production. The distillery sits directly on the shore of Loch Indaal on Islay's western coast, and is distinguished by its iconic No. 1 Vaults — a legendary maturation warehouse situated below sea level where the maturing whisky is directly influenced by the Atlantic seawater that surrounds it. Bowmore is one of only three working Scotch single malt distilleries that still floor-malts its own barley (alongside Laphroaig and Springbank). Bowmore has been part of Suntory Global Spirits since 2014 (originally entering the Suntory portfolio in 1994 through the Morrison Bowmore acquisition), sister to Yamazaki, Hibiki, Hakushu, Auchentoshan, Maker's Mark and Courvoisier.

Bowmore's signature house style is moderately peated, maritime-coastal, and elegantly balanced — distinct from the heavier peat of southern Islay neighbours like Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin. The peat level is approximately 25 ppm (softer than the 40-65 ppm of the Kildalton trio), allowing the maritime character and underlying Bowmore fruitiness to come through clearly alongside the smoke. The Bowmore 12 Year Old is malt-rich and peat-smoky, with smooth creamy palate. The Bowmore 15 Year Old Sherry Oak Cask is a deep and enigmatic showcase of masterful sherry-cask maturation — sweet and gently spicy. The Bowmore 18 Year Old (sherry cask) offers mellow mahogany colour with creamy caramel toffee, ripe fruit and smoke aromas; incredibly complex palate with beautiful soft fruit and chocolate balanced with light smokiness; long, wonderfully balanced finish. The signature Bowmore character — peat smoke, brine, salt, spice, soft fruit — runs through every age tier.

Bowmore was founded in 1779 by John P. Simpson in the village of Bowmore on the Isle of Islay, Scotland. The 1779 founding date makes Bowmore the oldest licensed Islay distillery and one of the very oldest licensed Scotch single malt distilleries in continuous production — predating the 1823 Excise Act by 44 years. Bowmore sits among the small handful of working Scottish distilleries with founding dates predating 1800: Glenturret (1763), Bowmore (1779), Strathisla (1786), Balblair (1790), Oban (1794) and Highland Park (1798) are the principal members of this exclusive pre-19th-century group. The Bowmore distillery has been operating continuously since 1779.

Bowmore is made at the Bowmore distillery in the village of Bowmore on the Isle of Islay — the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides islands of Scotland and the spiritual home of peated Scotch single malt whisky. The distillery sits directly on the shore of Loch Indaal on Islay's western coast, with the iconic No. 1 Vaults maturation warehouse extending below sea level into the very edge of the loch. Islay is approximately 240 square miles in area, with a population of around 3,200 residents, and is home to nine working single malt distilleries. Bowmore is the oldest of all the Islay distilleries and sits in the geographic centre of the island.

No. 1 Vaults is Bowmore's legendary maturation warehouse — situated directly on the shore of Loch Indaal on Islay's western coast, with portions of the warehouse extending below sea level. The warehouse is one of the most genuinely distinctive maturation environments in all of Scotch single malt: the maturing casks sit at sea level (and below it), with Atlantic seawater literally lapping against the warehouse walls, providing a constant maritime humidity, salt-laden air, and consistent temperature moderation that cannot be replicated at any inland warehouse. The Atlantic seawater influence contributes the distinctive briny, saline, maritime character that defines the Bowmore house style. No. 1 Vaults is the oldest whisky maturation warehouse in Scotland still in continuous use, dating back to the distillery's 1779 founding.

Bowmore is one of only three working Scotch single malt distilleries that still floor-malts its own barley — alongside Laphroaig (also Islay) and Springbank (Campbeltown) — and is the oldest of the three to maintain this traditional production method continuously. Floor malting is the original technique used to convert barley into malt for whisky production: the barley is spread out on a malting floor approximately 20-30cm deep, regularly turned by hand using wooden shovels, and allowed to germinate over 5-7 days before being kiln-dried over peat smoke. Bowmore floor-malts approximately 30% of its own barley requirements on-site, supplementing with malt from commercial maltsters for the remainder. The floor-malted barley is kilned over Islay peat from local Glenmachrie peat moss, providing the authentic local peat character that has defined Bowmore for over 240 years.

Bowmore is owned by Suntory Global Spirits — the global premium spirits division of Japan's Suntory Holdings, headquartered in Tokyo. Bowmore entered the Suntory portfolio originally in 1994, when Suntory acquired Morrison Bowmore Distillers (which owned Bowmore, Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch). The 2014 merger of Suntory's spirits operations with Beam Inc. created Beam Suntory, which was renamed Suntory Global Spirits in 2024. Sister single malt brands within Suntory Global Spirits include Yamazaki, Hibiki and Hakushu (the iconic Suntory Japanese whiskies), Auchentoshan (Lowland), Laphroaig (Islay neighbour), Glen Garioch (Highland), and the American whiskeys Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Knob Creek and Basil Hayden's. Other Suntory spirits include Courvoisier Cognac and El Tesoro tequila.

Bowmore occupies a distinct stylistic position among the great Islay single malts — softer and more balanced than the heavily peated Kildalton trio (Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin), but more peated than the lighter Bunnahabhain. Bowmore's peat level is approximately 25 ppm of phenols, compared to 40-65 ppm at Ardbeg/Laphroaig/Lagavulin. This moderate peat allows the maritime character (from No. 1 Vaults sea-level maturation) and the underlying sherry-cask sweetness to come through clearly alongside the smoke — producing a more balanced Islay style that many drinkers consider the most accessible and food-friendly of the southern-Islay heritage. Bowmore is also the only Islay distillery with a continuous founding date predating 1800 (1779 founding), making it the oldest of the Islay nine.

Frank Quitely is the renowned Glasgow-based Scottish comic book artist, whose distinctive realistic and emotionally evocative style has made him one of the most acclaimed comic illustrators of the 21st century. His major works include All-Star Superman (with writer Grant Morrison), We3, Flex Mentallo, The Authority, and many others. Bowmore has partnered with Frank Quitely on a series of distinctive limited-edition single malt releases that pair the brand's heritage and storytelling with Quitely's atmospheric Glasgow-Scottish artistic vision. The Bowmore Frank Quitely series available at The Liquid Collection includes The Changeling 22 Year Old & 33 Year Old (2 x 70cl, 2-bottle set) and Lovers Transformed 23 Year Old & 36 Year Old (2 x 70cl, 2-bottle set) — each pairing tells a mythical Scottish tale through the whisky's character and Quitely's artwork.

Yes — Bowmore is one of the most prestigious Islay single malt gift choices available, particularly for whisky drinkers who appreciate genuine heritage credentials, distinctive maritime character, and the broadest possible range of luxury bottlings. The Bowmore 12 Year Old is the universal flagship gift bottle. The Bowmore 15 Year Old Sherry Oak Cask is the considered choice for sherried-Islay drinkers. The Bowmore 18 Year Old is the prestige milestone gift. The Bowmore Frank Quitely sets are the ultra-prestige artistic-collaboration gifts. The Bowmore 1969 50 Year Old is the legendary collector's bottle — only 339 bottles released worldwide. The 1779 founding heritage, the No. 1 Vaults sea-level warehouse, the floor-maltings craft credentials, and the Suntory pedigree all give Bowmore unusually rich gift storytelling at every price tier. See our Fine & Rare selection for additional collectible options.

Yes. Free delivery anywhere in Singapore with no minimum order. Standard lead time is 3 working days.