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Bowmore whisky

Bowmore is the oldest working distillery on Islay, owned by Suntory Global Spirits, making a peated single malt. This page lists the Bowmore bottles in stock at the UK retailers we check with the lowest current price, from the 12, 15, 18 and 25 Year Old to limited releases such as the annual Fèis Ìle bottlings and independent bottlings.

Bowmore uses peat smoke in its process, and the peat tag here describes house style rather than a measurement for each bottle. Newer ranges explain other ages: Sherry Oak and travel-retail Appellations finishes joined in 2024. Rare bottles vary widely in price between shops.

Founded in 1779, the distillery’s history and its No.1 Vaults are covered by Whiskipedia’s Bowmore page. Prices are the best current in-stock offer from the UK retailers we check (how we compare prices).

43 full-size bottles (50cl to 1 litre) in stock, plus 1 smaller bottle under 50cl, with the best current price from the UK retailers we check.

Engraving of Bowmore distillery on the shore of Loch Indaal, with its chimney, sailing ships and a rowing boat
Engraving from Alfred Barnard, The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom (1887). Public domain.

Known for

The flavour families that most often turn up for Bowmore, based on its available bottles.

A guide to the house style rather than a promise: individual releases can differ.

About the distillery

Region
Islay, Scotland
Founded
1779
Status
Producing
Capacity
2.15 million litres of pure alcohol a year (stated capacity, not actual output); as recorded October 2026. Number 86 of 169 by stated capacity.
Stills
4 (2 wash, 2 spirit)
Owner
Owned by Suntory Global Spirits (Suntory Holdings) (since 1992); as recorded October 2026
Say it
bow*moor
Notable
Malts some of its own barley, Coastal site
SMWS code
3, the number on Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottlings (SMWS code decoder)
Visitor rating
4.6 out of 5 (759 reviews); TripAdvisor, October 2026
Travel Index
Rank #29 in Scotland (Bronze Tier), score 72.2/100. Milroy's Travel Index.

Read the full history on Whiskipedia

Secondary Market Barometer

43,288 lots sold · £24.5m hammer total

How Bowmore bottles have traded at Scotch Whisky Auctions, Whisky Auctioneer and Whisky Hammer between May 2011 and October 2026. Hammer prices exclude buyer's premium, VAT and delivery, except that a Whisky Hammer price includes 20% VAT when a VAT-registered business sells the lot.

Trading volume
#5Among the most tradedof 181 distilleries by lots sold
Bids per lot
22.7Above-average biddingWhisky Auctioneer only, against 20.5 across all distilleries
Median hammer price
£170.00average £566.50, pulled up by the top lots
Independent bottlings
16%of lots (6,892), the rest official bottlings (36,396)Median hammer: official £170.00, independent £180.00
Highest hammer prices
BottleSoldHammer
Bowmore - 'Black Bowmore Aston Martin DB5' 31 Year Old (1964)2021£93,000.00
Bowmore Aston Martin Arc-52 52 Year Old2023£85,500.00
Bowmore - 52 Year Old (1965) Precious Metals Special Edition2022£65,000.00
Most often sold
BottleLotsMedian
Bowmore 12 Year Old838£85.00
Bowmore Legend638£85.00
Bowmore 20 Year Old David Simson Distillery Exclusive585£270.00
Top independent bottlers
BottlerLotsMedian
Scotch Malt Whisky Society1,568£160.00
Cadenhead622£130.00
Douglas Laing524£181.00

Past auction results, not a valuation or a guide to future prices. Figures compiled 12 November 2026.

Before comparing a hammer price with a shop price, add the fees: buying whisky at auction vs retail works through them. Auction medians for many brands have fallen since their 2021 and 2022 peaks, as what 1.6 million auction lots show about whisky prices sets out.

Also sold as

Names linked to Bowmore. Bottles sold under these names are listed separately from Bowmore's own.

Big Peat

Blended malt including Bowmore, confirmed by the bottler. Source

Questions

What is the cheapest Bowmore whisky?
The cheapest Bowmore whisky is Bowmore 12 Year Old 2025 Release Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl (12 years old, 40% ABV, 70cl), at £38.50 from Master of Malt. That is £43.45 delivered to the UK mainland for one bottle. Next cheapest: Bowmore 12 Year Old Sherry Oak Cask Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl (£62.00) and Bowmore 15 Year Old (£73.95).
How much does Bowmore whisky cost?
Bowmore whisky costs from £38.50 to £2,500.00, with a median of £399.00 for a full-size bottle (50cl to 1 litre). The dearest is Bowmore Fèis Ìle 2019 Handfill Cask 666 1997.
What is the oldest Bowmore whisky you can buy?
Bowmore Murray McDavid Aficionado Oloroso Sherry Cask 1990 34 Year Old Whisky, at 34 years old, from £625.50.
Is Bowmore peated?
Yes. Bowmore uses peat smoke in its whisky-making process. Bowmore describes its process. The effect in the glass also depends on distillation and maturation. See peated whisky.
Does Bowmore still malt its own barley?
Yes. Bowmore describes hand-turning barley on its own malting floors and using peat smoke in its kiln.