Bowmore Distillery
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 Bowmore Tours, Opening Hours and Contact
Easter - June:
Monday to Saturday 09:00 - 17:00
Tours at 10:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00
July to Mid September:
Monday to Saturday 09:00 - 17:00
Sunday 12:00 - 16:00
Tours Mon-Fri 10:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00
Sunday 13:00 and 14:00
Mid September to Easter:
Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00, Saturday 09:00 - 12:00
Tours Mon-Fri 10:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00; Sat 10:00
Admission
Guided Tour £4.00 per Adult - £2.00 for OAPs. No charge for under 18s.
Craftsman's Tour £40.00 per adult (by prior appointment)
Current owner: Suntory, Japanese Whisky Co
Distillery Manager: Eddie McAffer
 info@morrisonbowmore.com
 www.bowmore.co.uk
 Visitor Centre + 44 (0) 1496 810441
 Distillery + 44 (0) 1496 810757
Bowmore History and Distillery Information
Bowmore Distillery is situated on the shores of Loch Indaal and actually in the centre of the lovely town of Bowmore, which means great reef or Sea rock. John Simpson started the distillery on a small scale in 1779, and is the oldest legal Distillery on Islay. Bowmore Distillery changed hands in 1837 when William and James Mutter took over and expanded the distillery. More recently the Morrison family owned it until the take over by the Japanese Company Santoro. Bowmore is one of the only two remaining Islay Distilleries which still has floor maltings, with phenol levels of 18/25 p.p.m.
Bowmore is known for producing a wide variety of whiskies of different ages and finishes. While this practice may be considered a marketing ploy rather than an effective technique for improving quality, it has enabled the company to offer an eclectic range of taste and price. Bowmore whisky is milder than the three southern distilleries but has distinct peaty and salty flavours. The taste and location fit perfectly together. Both in the middle of the Souther and Northern distilleries.
Recently the visitor centre has had a major refurbishment as well as the brand name of Bowmore, which has changed to Bowmore, The Original Islay Malt, referring to Bowmore's old tradition on Islay.
Related info: Alfred Barnard's visit to Bowmore Distillery in the 1880s
Bottlings
Bowmore Legend: Their least expensive bottling. No age is printed but it is an 8 - 10 year old malt. 40% alcohol by volume.
Bowmore Surf: Same as the Legend, for the European market.
Bowmore 12 Year Old: A standard Islay whisky. 40% abv.
Bowmore Mariner 15 year old: A slighted older variety. 43% abv.
Bowmore Darkest: As the name suggests, their darkest whisky. Aged in ex-bourbon casks and finished in Oloroso butts. 43% abv.
Bowmore Dawn: Aged in ex-bourbon and finished in Ruby Port casks. One of their strongest varieties: 51.5% abv. No age given.
Bowmore 17 Year Old: The next stage above the 15 year old Mariner. 43 % abv.
Bowmore 21 Year Old: Their oldest commonly available bottling. 43% abv.
Bowmore Cask Strength: Bottled straight from the cask. 56% abv.
A 5 year old bottling of Bowmore is sold under the McClelland's brand name
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Those who discover malt whisky quickly learn that the malts made on the Isle of Islay are some of the wildest and most characterful in the malt-whisky spectrum. 
This guide for the whisky enthusiast covers the distilleries of the Hebrides and the west coast of Scotland. 