Islay’s oldest distillery releases ultra-rare single malt expressions for whisky connoisseurs and collectors in Southeast Asia. Established in 1779, Bowmore is one of oldest distilleries from the famed island of Islay, lending it the unique title of The Pioneer of Islay.
Bowmore pays homage to its location on the shores of Lochindaal and its relationship with the sea, through its name. Derived from Scottish Gaelic bodha mor, which translates to large hidden or tidal rock, the name Bowmore refers to the black reefs that line the loch shore. The legendary Bowmore® No. 1 Vaults are where most of the whiskies are in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, in a unique environment which contribute to the deeply complex flavours characteristic of Bowmore’s iconic whiskies, giving the brand its timeless character in each bottle.
Till date, Bowmore retains many of its traditional, time-honored, and hands-on whisky making techniques, celebrating Bowmore’s rich history, values and principles. Floor malting, hand-turning by a traditional wooden malt shovel, hand-drawn machinery, and a lengthy maturation process are just some of Bowmore’s age-old methods. Moreover, water for the whiskies is specially drawn from the Laggan River, with its rich peaty overtones, the same Islay peat that fires the malt-drying kiln.
It's only befitting then that Bowmore’s pioneering legacy and timeless house style makes its ultra-aged whiskies highly prized by whisky connoisseurs and aficionados the world over. According to Sotheby’s, Bowmore is the second most sought-after single malt and the fourth most coveted spirit brand amongst collectors. Case in point, Bowmore STAC 55 Year Old, Bowmore’s oldest-ever whisky, fetched a record-breaking price of £562,500 (S$933,027) in a recent Distillers One of One auction in Scotland.
Daryl Haldane, Private Client Director, Beam Suntory, responsible for overseeing the rare and aged inventory, was recently in town to showcase selected Bowmore’s expressions for 2024, as well as a special unveiling of the sleek, futuristic Bowmore-Arc 52.
More specifically, the 2023 editions of Bowmore Timeless Aged 29 Years; Bowmore Aston Martin Masters’ Selection Edition #3, 22-Years-Old; Bowmore 30-Year-Old (there are just under 3,000 bottles available globally); Bowmore 40-Year-Old (just over 100 bottles available globally); and Bowmore Timeless 1969 (one of Bowmore's most rare and iconic single malts), will be available for sale in 2024.
Haldane tells me that the single malt momentum has really gathered speed in the past two decades as whisky drinkers become more refined, becoming more confident about exploring different flavours and pairings, rather than being constrained by old fashion rules. “Naturally, older whiskies attract a more mature audience, especially because of the prices they command. And then when you bring two very cool, very well-made brands like Bowmore and Aston Martin together, who believe that time, vision and skill define their quality, you know you’re on an exciting journey as a collector.”
It certainly doesn’t get more exciting for a collector than owning one of the very limited-edition Bowmore Arc-52 (there are only 100 bottles available), one of the oldest Bowmore expressions engineered in collaboration with the prestigious Aston Martin. The 52-year-old single malt is a testament to Bowmore’s expert craftsmanship and dedication to meticulous cask maturation and management, aged in a single American oak ex-Bourbon hogshead, accompanied by a sleek decanter that exemplifies cutting-edge design and technology, making it an absolute collector must-have.