Bowmore er det ældste destilleri på Islay. De ældste optegnelser om et legalt destilleri i Bowmore daterer destilleriet til 1779, men det kan være op 10-11 år ældre idet grunden blev solgt til opførelse af destilleri ca 12 år tidligere.
Destilleriet ligger i hovedbyen Bowmore på øen Islay ud til Loch Indaal.
Bowmore er et af de få destillerier der stadig har egen gulvmaltning som producerer cirka 50 procent af malten (meget høj andel sammenlignet med andre destillerier).
Produktionen er på en gang både traditionel og moderne. Det moderne aspekt er den meget miljøbevidste brug af energi hvor spildvarme udnyttes i stedet for at lede varmt kølevand bort. Den genvundne varme benyttes i produktionen smat til opvarmning af en offentlig svømmehal i et af de gamle lagerhuse. Det traditionelle aspekt er egen gulvmaltning samt at man er gået tilbage til washbacks af træ (man har haft stål men var ikke tilfreds med den karakter det gav whiskyen).
Bowmore har fremstillet mange berømte og eftertragtede Single Malts.
Nogle af de mest efterspurgte Bowmore er Black Bowmore som nu findes i 4 udgaver (29, 30, 31 og 42 års). Alle Black Bowmore er destilleret i 1964 og fremstillet i få eksemplarer (fra 827 flasker af den 42 årige til 2000 flasker af den 29 og 30 årige).
Bowmore har i mange år været kendt for både Bowmore 12 og Bowmore 17 til rimelige priser. Primo 2007 lancerede man en ny Bowmore 18, som ifølge rygter skulle afløse Bowmore 17. Det viste sig heldigvis ikke at være sandt. I dag produceres både Bowmore 17 og Bowmore 18. Bowmore 17 er af markedsføringsmæssige årsager overført til Travel serien hvor Bowmore 18 indgår i standard serien.
Den meget premierede Bowmore 25 er også værd at nævne. Den har flere gange været kåret som verdens bedste brune spiritus (i konkurrence med andre whiskyer, mørk rom og cognac).
Bowmore har også fremstillet nogle fantastiske 16 år gamle limited editions (1989 bourbon, 1990 sherry, 1991 port og 1992 rødvin).
Senest er der også kommet en White Bowmore 43 år (der har været lagret på Bourbon fade) samt en ny serie kaldet Craftsmens Collection (hvor det første medlem Maltmens Selection sætter en meget høj standard - det bliver spændende at se hvad de andre faggrupper udvælger fra lageret).
Der er rygter om, at der skulle komme en Golden Bowmore, men intet officielt endnu (vi kan spekulere på om de har flere 1964 fade på lager og om Golden henviser til lagring på Portvinsfade som traditionelt giver en gylden farve).
The Auction
Bowmore is considered one of the leading collectible Single Malts in the world. With Bowmore 1957 not only being the oldest Bowmore released but also the oldest Islay Single Malt ever released, the Bonhams’ auctions are certain to quicken the heartbeats of whisky collectors around the world. Auctions are set for Edinburgh on October 10 (http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19871/) and New York City on October 28 (http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20459/) with bids accepted live in each location as well as live internet bidding. Inquiries regarding bidding can be directed to bids@bonhams.com. The minimum reserve set by Bonhams is £100,000 per bottle, the highest reserve ever set for a Single Malt Whisky.
The Charitable Donation
We have chosen to donate all net proceeds of both auctions to five Scottish charities that encompass a variety of worthy causes: ALZHEIMER SCOTLAND (care for people with dementia, their caregivers and families); THE BEATSON ONCOLOGY CENTRE (care for cancer patients receiving treatment in the west of Scotland); CHAS (childrens hospice services); ERSKINE (medical care for Armed Forces); and MARIE CURIE CANCER CARE (cancer care and research).
The Unique Presentation
We have been distilling and perfecting our celebrated Single Malt on Islay since 1779, and while the size of our pot stills and capacity of the washbacks may have increased, the time-honored manner in which we make our whisky has not: Bowmore is one of the few distilleries that still turns its floor-malted barley by hand, checks the germinating barley by rolling it between finger and thumb and judges the “middle cut” of new made spirit by eye to determine the best liquid to fill the casks that will mature into well-aged Bowmore.
No attention to detail has been missed in making this precious spirit, and the same hand-crafted thoughtfulness has been applied to the vessel and presentation box that carries the rare Bowmore 1957. Each of the 12 bottles has been hand-blown and sculpted by two of the world’s foremost glass artists Brodie Nairn and Nichola Burns, into the shape of waves reminiscent of those that constantly crash against the No.1 Vaults’ sea-facing walls. The glass is inlaid with shimmering flecks of platinum, one of the rarest precious metals on earth. Adorning each bottle is a platinum neck collar, hand-engraved with the bottle number and spirit strength, and platinum stopper hand-crafted by Hamilton & Inches, Warrant Holder to the Queen. The bottle and accompanying glasses and water pitcher, also hand-blown by Nairn and Burns, are nestled in a presentation box created by acclaimed woodworker Peter Toaig, using hand-selected pieces of Scottish Oak. View artisans’ videos here: /news/something-magical/
The Allocation Of 12 Bottles
Only 12 bottles of the rarest Bowmore 1957 have been created. Two of these bottles will be auctioned, two have been retained for the Morrison Bowmore archives and the remaining eight will be available for purchase by the public solely via the Bowmore Distillery on Islay. The retail price for Bowmore 1957 will be £100,000 (approx. $155,000). Islay is the whisky-making mecca for many aficionados and those people who make the special journey to purchase Bowmore 1957 will be captivated by this magical island’s craggy coasts, windswept moors and friendly inhabitants.
Cask Maturation And Tasting Notes
This 54-year-old Bowmore 1957 is a symphony of aromas and flavours never before experienced. After distillation in 1957, the new spirit was placed into a second fill sherry cask (where it spent 43 years) and then in 2000 was moved into a second fill bourbon cask. At first breath, an elixir of blueberries and wild figs with mellow almonds, tropical fruit and rich oaky overtones hits the nose. The palate reveals layer upon layer of sweet and refined ocean tastes with soft blueberries, cassis and figs, sea salt and fresh eucalyptus. Next, a wisp of teasing smoke and traces of dark chocolate fuse with notes of grapefruit and juicy oak, carried along by a warming marine breeze. This sensory journey ends with a long and whispering finish of cassis, bergamot and star anise. Simply magical!