Deep amber aspect, with aromas of cut flowers, sea salt, peat smoke and some mature fig fruit. Clean and slightly oily on the palate, with some smoked fruit notes, and flavours of prune, honey and tobacco.

Located in the town of the same name on the shores of Loch Indaal. The oldest existing distillery on Islay, having been legalised in 1779. It was purchased by Brian Morrison in 1963 for £117,000. Bowmore has been 100% owned by Suntory since 1994 (they purchased a 34% stake in 1989).

The spirit that flows through its stills is one of the lighter of the Islay whiskies, despite using malt with a phenol content of 23 parts per million. Bowmore is notable for still having an operational floor maltings. The spirit can stand up well to fairly lengthy maturation in rich sherry casks and the highly sought after Black Bowmore is the perfect example of this. These bottles, which initially sold at around £100, are now fetching upwards of £1000 - when you can find one.