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Bowmore whisky

Bowmore is the oldest working distillery on Islay, owned by Suntory Global Spirits, making a medium-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’s malt is specified at around 25 to 30 ppm phenols, and the peat tag here is house style rather than a label claim; Bowmore has long been less smoky than its south-coast neighbours. 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).

34 bottles in stock, 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.

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
Visitor tours
Open to visitors (tours from £20, avg £198; checked October 2026). See distillery tour guide.
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

36,961 lots sold · £20.1m hammer total

How Bowmore bottles have traded at Scotch Whisky Auctions and Whisky Auctioneer between January 2011 and October 2026. Hammer prices exclude buyer's premium, VAT and delivery.

Trading volume
#3of 182 distilleries by lots sold
Bids per lot
22.0Whisky Auctioneer only, against 19.9 across all distilleries
Median hammer price
£166average £544, pulled up by the top lots
Independent bottlings
16%of lots (5,853), the rest official bottlings (31,108)
Highest hammer prices
BottleSoldHammer
Bowmore 1966 Bouquet£58,500
Bowmore 1966 Bouquet2018£51,611
Bowmore 1966 Bouquet2020£48,000
Most often sold
BottleLotsMedian
Bowmore 15 Year Old3,375£110
Bowmore 10 Year Old2,900£85
Bowmore 18 Year Old2,061£130

Past auction results, not a valuation or a guide to future prices. Figures compiled 1 November 2026.

Also sold as

Names used when Bowmore whisky is bottled without the distillery's name. These bottles 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 15 Year Old (£73.95) and Bowmore 15 Year Old 2025 Release Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl (£74.95).
How much does Bowmore whisky cost?
Bowmore whisky costs from £38.50 to £3,276.00, with a median of £350.00 for a full-size bottle. The dearest is Bowmore 30 Year Old Sea Dragon Limited Edition Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl.
What is the oldest Bowmore whisky you can buy?
Bowmore Murray McDavid Aficionado Oloroso Sherry Cask Fini 1990 34 year old Whisky, at 34 years old, from £625.50.
Is Bowmore peated?
Yes, moderately. Bowmore specifies its malt, both what it makes on site and what it buys in, at around 25 to 30 ppm phenols, and it has long been less smoky than its south-coast Islay neighbours Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg. ppm measures the malt, not the bottled whisky, and cask type shapes the taste. See peated whisky.
Does Bowmore still malt its own barley?
Partly. Bowmore is one of three Islay distilleries with its own floor maltings, alongside Laphroaig and Kilchoman. The distillery says around a quarter of its malt is made on site and the rest comes from Simpson’s, and the two are always mixed; the kiln runs about 10 hours on peat smoke, then 34 hours on hot air.