An Expert Guide To Collecting Bowmore

Bowmore, Islay’s oldest distillery, is renowned for producing some of the most sought-after and collectible whiskies in the world. The legendary Bowmore whiskies from the 1950s and 1960s are renowned for their exquisite balance of exuberant tropical fruit and peat smoke. In contrast, the distillery’s whiskies from the 1980s, characterised by intense floral and perfumed notes reminiscent of parma violets, have stirred debate among enthusiasts, making this era a divisive chapter in Bowmore’s history.

In this article, we delve into Bowmore’s most iconic expressions from the 1950s and 1960s, highlighting the must-have bottles for any serious Bowmore collection.

The Black Bowmore Series

Black Bowmore is nothing short of legendary in the whisky world and is greatly credited as the genesis of modern whisky collecting. It’s not just a bottle; it’s a piece of whisky history that has captivated whisky enthusiasts around the globe. Many of the world’s top collectors hold Black Bowmore in the highest regard - take the late Mr. Richard Gooding, for example. The man behind The Perfect Collection had 25 unopened bottles of Black Bowmore in his collection. And let's not forget the countless others that were enjoyed with good company. 

The journey of Black Bowmore began in 1993, at a time when sherry-casked whisky was all the rage. The first release was a modest 2,000 bottles, each priced at the heady sum of £120 a bottle. This was just the beginning and the saga continued with more releases in 1994 (another 2,000 bottles), 1995 (1,827 bottles), and 2007 (827 bottles). The ground-breaking series was eventually crowned in 2017 with the release of 'The Last Cask', a 50 Year Old 1964 Black Bowmore limited to 159 bottles.

Owning this five-bottle collection is the dream of every serious collector and the cornerstone of any world-class whisky collection. If you’re looking to collect something truly special, Black Bowmore is as good as it gets.

At the time, everyone was excited and proud at what had been achieved through maturation in the No.1 Vaults. This was a single malt which reflected the high quality of our casks. This was also really the first time we created a truly collectible Bowmore, presented in a specially made presentation box. We did this as we knew it was special, but just how special completely surprised us as it was to go on to become one of the most iconic Scotch whiskies ever released.

 

David Turner, Distilllery Manager at Bowmore

Bowmore Black, White & Gold Trilogy

More than a decade after the original Black Bowmore releases set the whisky world abuzz, Bowmore decided to revisit this iconic series. They unveiled a new Black Bowmore, drawn from the same legendary casks but with a bit more age -this one clocking in at 42 years old. It was like meeting an old friend with a few more stories to tell. This release was closely followed by ‘White Bowmore’, a 43 year old matured exclusively in ex-bourbon casks, and ‘Gold Bowmore’, a 44 year old uniquely drawn from a marriage of ex-bourbon and sherry casks.

They were released at a time when collectors were starting to really look at single malt whisky to purchase as either an investment or to build their own collections. What's lovely about this trilogy is that they offered different flavour profiles of Bowmore, of the same distillate, all distilled in 1964, so it really creates a lovely understanding of what Bowmore's real character is like distilled in a variety of different casks.

 

Becky Paskin, Drinks Writer and Presenter

Bowmore Cask Trilogy

This legendary trilogy showcases three single cask releases, all from the illustrious 1964 vintage. Of all the vintages over the years, none are as celebrated as 1964, and no whiskies are as revered as those from this exceptional year.

Each release in this trilogy comes from a distinct cask finish: Oloroso, Fino, and Bourbon. It’s a delightful journey through different flavour profiles, each bottle offering its own unique character. Only 300 bottles of each variation were produced and they come presented in beautifully crafted wooden cabinets, complete with their own lock and key - perfect for safeguarding such treasures.

Sherriff's Expressions

Bowmore Distillery boasts a rich and storied history, with some of its rare expressions offering a fascinating glimpse into its past. Back in 1925, Bowmore was sold to Glasgow-based JB Sherriff & Co. for the second time and renamed Sherriff's Bowmore distillery. This period also saw Sherriff’s owning the Lochead Distillery in Campbeltown and the Lochindaal Distillery in Port Charlotte. They even had a hand in Jamaican rum, as owners of the Long Pond Distillery.

Whiskies bottled during the 1960s and 1970s under the JB Sherriff & Co. label are highly coveted by collectors today. After 25 years, Sherriff’s sold Bowmore to the Inverness-based William Grigor & Son (previous owners of the Glen Albyn distillery). 

Bowmore from the 1950s

Bowmore 1955 40 Year Old

Released in 1995, the Bowmore 1955 40 Year Old is a true gem with only 306 bottles ever produced. At an original price of £4000, this bottle also gave the owner a two-night stay at one of Bowmore's distillery cottages and a personal tour with the distillery manager, which included a special tasting at the end.

 This single malt came from spirit distilled using the old coal-fired stills so truly a part of Bowmore’s rich history. It is a great example of the quality we achieved from casks laid down in the 1950s and 1960s. It is whiskies like this which have hugely contributed to our reputation. 

 

This is a fantastic dram; my personal all-time favourite Bowmore.

 

David Turner, Distillery Manager at Bowmore

Bowmore 1956 Sherry Casks

This whisky is part of a now-legendary spate of sherry cask Bowmore vintages from the 1950s and '60s, widely regarded as some of the finest Bowmore ever committed to bottle. Distilled in 1956, before the Morrison family took over ownership in 1963, this expression was bottled in the late 1980s.

With an impressive 96 points awarded by Serge Valentin on WhiskyFun.com, this whisky is a quintessential example of why Bowmore's sherry cask whiskies from this era are so highly revered.

The Most Wanted Bowmore for Collectors

So many Bowmores, so little time! If you're a Bowmore collector, here are a few more standout picks that should be on your radar:

Bowmore Bicentenary: Released in 1979 to mark Bowmore’s 200th anniversary, this set includes two distinct bottlings: a 1964 vintage and a multi-vintage expression from select casks distilled in the 1950s and ’60s. Some rare cask-strength versions were also produced exclusively for the Italian market. These iconic releases are true collector's items.

Commemorative Bowmore Releases: Over the years Bowmore has released several especially rare limited editions. Highlights include the Bowmore 1968 Stanley P. Morrison 50th Anniversary bottling, personally chosen by Brian Morrison and limited to 1820 bottles, and the Bowmore 21 Year Old Celebration Edition 1996, an incredibly rare bottling presented to commemorate the presentation of Morrison Bowmore Distillers Queen's award for export achievement on 13th December 1996.

Bowmore 1964 35 Year Old for Oddbins: This rare single cask release, bottled exclusively for Oddbins in 2000, is part of the same batch of Oloroso casks that produced the legendary Black Bowmore. With only 99 bottles available, it’s a must-have for serious Bowmore collectors.

Bowmore 1968 Single Cask #222: Part of an incredibly rare series of single cask Bowmore bottled in the late 1970s for customers of Fecchio & Frassa Import in Italy including Edoardo Giaccone's famous Whiskyteca. Distilled in 1968 and matured in single ex-Sherry cask #222, this is one of 280 bottles produced at cask-strength in December 1977.

Bowmore 1967 Largiemeanoch: A legendary bottle of whisky, distilled at Bowmore in 1967 and bottled from a vatting of three sherry casks. This is an incredibly rare example, bottled under the Largiemeanoch label, a brand devised for a series of private bottlings for The Howgate Wine Co in Edinburgh in the late 1970s. 

Independently Bottled Bowmore

When looking at the collectible realms of Bowmore, it is impossible not to discuss the independent gems that make up some of the rarest wonders of the whisky world. Independent releases from Silvano Samaroli, Kingsbury, Moon Import and Cadenhead's frequently land at the top of the list on WhiskyFun, often scoring above 90 points. Among these, the 1966 Bowmore Bouquet from Samaroli stands out as Serge's favourite expression from the distillery.

Widely regarded as one of the finest whiskies ever bottled, the Bowmore 1966 Samaroli Bouquet has achieved legendary status. This iconic bottle, aptly named the "Bouquet," was distilled during a golden era at Bowmore in 1966 and symbolizes the flourishing Italian passion for single malt Scotch whisky. Its reputation was further solidified when it fetched an impressive £60,000 GBP at auction in 2019, reflecting its esteemed place in whisky lore.

Interested in finding some of these collectible Bowmore single malt whiskies for your own collection? View our auction calendar to find out when our next auction is live. Whisky Auctioneer regularly welcomes rare Bowmore expressions in our monthly auctions. Browse all past and present Bowmore lots or contact us if you are interested in selling a bottle of Bowmore.