Bowmore Distillery: History, Owner, Range and Visitor Guide
Updated: 4 hours ago
Bowmore is said to be the oldest running distillery on Islay, and it sits on the shore of Loch Indaal. This guide covers its history, owner, range and the questions people ask most.
In this guide
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Bowmore at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery / brand | Bowmore |
Whisky region | Islay, Scotland |
Ownership (October 2026) | Suntory Global Spirits |
History | Established in 1779 according to the distillery's history. |
Expressions to explore | Bowmore 12 Year Old and Bowmore 15 Year Old |
Visiting / editorial note | The distillery is on School Street in the centre of Bowmore. ScotchWhisky.com lists hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, with shorter Saturday and Sunday… |
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Where is Bowmore Distillery?
Bowmore is on the south-eastern shore of Loch Indaal on the Isle of Islay, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It is pronounced boh-MOR. The Gaelic name is Taigh-staile Bogh Mòr.
Bowmore history
Bowmore is said to have been established in 1779 by a local merchant, John P. Simson, before passing to the Mutter family, who were of German descent. James Mutter introduced a number of innovative processes and had a small iron steamship built to bring in barley and coal and to ship whisky to Glasgow. A bottle of 1850 Bowmore single malt sold at auction in September 2007 for £29,400.
The distillery closed in 1915 and was bought from the Mutter family in 1925 by J.B. Sheriff and Co. William Grigor and Son of Inverness bought it in 1950. During World War II production halted and the site hosted RAF Coastal Command, which flew anti-submarine missions in flying boats from Loch Indaal.
Stanley P. Morrison and James Howat formed Stanley P. Morrison Ltd in 1951, which formed Morrison's Bowmore Distillery Ltd in 1963 to take over the distillery. In 1994 the Japanese distiller Suntory bought Morrison Bowmore Distillers. In August 2024 Bowmore unveiled an updated bottle design and two new ranges.
Who owns Bowmore?
Bowmore is owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, a holding company owned by Suntory Global Spirits, a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings of Osaka, Japan. Morrison Bowmore also owns Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch.
Production
Stills: two wash stills and two spirit stills.
Water source: the River Laggan.
Capacity: listed at 1,700,000 litres.
Casks: American oak (86%) and sherry (14%).
The distillery keeps a traditional floor malting and sources as much barley as it can from Islay.
Waste heat from distillation heats a public swimming pool built in a former warehouse.
Bowmore range
Age statements listed on Wikipedia:
Bowmore Legend
Bowmore 12 Year Old
Bowmore 15 Year Old
Bowmore 18 Year Old
Bowmore 25 Year Old
The range was redesigned in 2024, so check the official site for current bottlings and strengths.
Bowmore production facts from the trade record
Stills: four, two wash and two spirit. Wash still charge 20,000 litres, spirit still charge 12,000 litres.
Capacity: 2 million litres of pure alcohol a year.
Malt: 25 to 30 ppm, with new make at 8 to 10 ppm. Mainland malt comes from Simpsons in Berwick-upon-Tweed. ScotchWhisky.com says the distillery's own floor maltings supply 40% of its needs, while The Single Cask says around a quarter. The sources differ.
Fermentation: a minimum of 48 hours in six wooden washbacks of 40,000 litres.
Strengths: new make at 69.2%, filled at 63.5%. Mash tun: semi lauter. Water: River Laggan.
Warehousing: two dunnage warehouses and one racked, with maturation on Islay.
Bowmore history: what is documented
The 1779 founding date is a claim. ScotchWhisky.com says there is no evidence of whisky being made until John Simpson took out a licence in 1816, so read 1779 as the date the distillery says it began. Wm and Jas Mutter took over in 1837, and Windsor Castle ordered a cask of Bowmore in 1841. Later owners were Joseph Robert Holmes (1892), JB Sheriff and Co (1925) and William Grigor and Sons (1950).
Stanley P Morrison bought the distillery in 1963, and the Morrison era produced the mid 1960s bottlings that collectors prize. Suntory took a stake in 1989 and full control in 1994. Black Bowmore, a 100% sherry aged release, sold for about £100 a bottle, which was thought extravagant at the time. ScotchWhisky.com dates its launch to 1995 in one place, while The Single Cask describes a 29, 30 and 31 year old trilogy released between 1993 and 1995. Suntory bought Beam in 2014, putting Bowmore and Laphroaig under one owner.
The No.1 Vaults
Bowmore's No.1 Vaults sit below the level of Loch Indaal, and one wall forms part of the town's sea wall. ScotchWhisky.com says the cool, damp conditions are seen as ideal for long maturation. A recovery system uses waste heat from the distillery to warm the town swimming pool.
Auction records and partnerships
The Single Cask reports that Bowmore STAC, from 1962 spirit, sold at auction in October 2023 for £562,500, a record for the distillery. It also notes a partnership with Aston Martin. These are the bottler's account and are not confirmed on the official site, which sits behind an age gate.
Visiting Bowmore
The distillery is on School Street in the centre of Bowmore. ScotchWhisky.com lists hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, with shorter Saturday and Sunday hours that vary by season. Recheck before travelling.
Official website
Sources
2026 whisky awards, releases and international availability
The World Whiskies Awards 2026 recognised Bowmore 21 Years Old Sherry Oak Cask as Best Scotch Islay Single Malt. This is a named sherry-oak expression, and a different bottling from Bowmore's 12 Year Old and other regularly encountered releases.
Bowmore bottle range and expression comparison
The following expressions are documented in producer or release sources. Special editions can be sold out and some blended labels include sourced whisky.
Bottle or expression | Age or release | ABV | Producer documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
Bowmore 12 Year Old | 12 years | 40% | Core Islay whisky |
Bowmore 15 Year Old | 15 years | 43% | Core |
Bowmore 18 Year Old | 18 years | 43% | Core |
Bowmore 25 Year Old | 25 years | 43% | Older expression |
Rare and historic whisky editions
These are historical or special releases, not live stock listings.
Bottle or expression | Age or release | ABV | Producer documentation |
|---|---|---|---|
Bowmore 15 Year Old Sherry Oak | 15 years | 43% | Sherry edition |
Bowmore 21 Year Old Sherry Oak | 21 years | 46.8% | Special sherry malt |
Bowmore 14 Year Old Bordeaux Cask Finish | 14 years | Check bottle | Travel exclusive |
Bowmore 30 Year Old Annual Release 2024 | 30 years | Check bottle | Rare annual |
Bottle releases and visitor arrangements change over time; see original research and official sources.
More whisky distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Bowmore
Where is Bowmore distillery?
On the shore of Loch Indaal on the Isle of Islay, Scotland.
Who owns Bowmore?
Suntory Global Spirits, through Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd.
When was Bowmore founded?
It is said to have been established in 1779.
Is Bowmore the oldest distillery on Islay?
It is said to be the oldest running distillery on Islay.
Who founded Bowmore?
A local merchant, John P. Simson.
Sources and latest checks
Whisky Clan has retained the original researched history and source notes above. The comparison table lists documented expressions, not guaranteed current stock. Please check the producer's current bottle labels for strength, cask details and availability.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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