{"id":44967,"date":"2022-08-11T11:55:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T15:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gentologie.com\/?p=44967"},"modified":"2026-07-17T09:39:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T13:39:33","slug":"bowmore-the-dean-of-islay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gentologie.com\/en\/fine-dining\/bowmore-the-dean-of-islay\/","title":{"rendered":"BOWMORE: The Dean of Islay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you know your whisky, you\u2019ve definitely heard of Bowmore. This summer, form the perfect pair with oysters, seafood and yes, an Aston Martin! Wait, what? Let\u2019s find out what that means from our guest\u2019s mouth, Mr. James Neil, Luxury Brand Ambassador at Beam Suntory. An article originally published in Gentologie Magazine Issue 10<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An article presented by<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The-Bowmore-Logo\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You cannot talk about Bowmore without explaining two key ingredients: Islay and time. Bowmore Islay, which is a small island on the west coast of Scotland, is a completely different thing. When people usually speak of Islay, they are referencing the peated flavour. \u201cBowmore is located in the centre of the island and really produces a beautifully balanced peated whisky and that\u2019s one thing we\u2019re really proud of,\u201d added Mr. Neil.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Bowmore-Distillery---Islay\"
The Bowmore Distillery
Photo: Bowmore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Story-wise, Bowmore is the second-oldest distillery in all of Scotland, and the oldest on Islay, established in 1779, which is 243 years ago. Even with its long history, Bowmore has maintained most of its traditional practices. For example, their method of production: they still have strong control over the craftsmanship of the whisky and ensure that the brand story stays consistent over centuries, hence the key role of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Balanced Whisky<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of the 130 distilleries in Scotland, only a dozen have their own malting floor and Bowmore is one of them. Mr. Neil explains: \u201cWe spread about seven tons of barley over the floor for the peating process. Then, we just sit and wait for the optimal temperature. This is done by controlling the windows\u2019 opening, and continually shovelling or raking that barley to make sure the airflow can maintain a constant temperature for the smoking process. All that peat smoke then naturally gravitates to that barley. When we go through the distillation process, all that peat, bold flavour has been ground up in the mill in that barley and that smoke flavour profile stays in it,\u201d added the whisky professional. That process builds that traditional Bowmore taste, a well-balanced smoky profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a new whisky drinker, Mr. Neil says that Bowmore is a beautiful introduction to the peated levels, often measured in parts per million (PPM). For example, Laphroaig is 40 PPM, Bowmore is around 25 PPM and Octomore, as a reference, ranges from 150 PPM to 400 PPM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bowmore\u2019s Craftsmanship<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Bowmore-Timeless-31-years\"
The Bowmore Timeless 31 year
Photo: Bowmore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A different way of doing things? Certainly. According to our guest, the craftsmanship and the hands-on at all times approach at Bowmore is at the heart of what makes their whisky great. Is it more expensive? 100%. Is it time consuming? 100%. Is it critical to get the consistency in their product that has now become one of the most collected single malt scotch whisky in the world? 100%. So, the craftsmanship has them making whisky the same way they made it 240 years ago. They strive to maintain that heritage, and that is a novelty in terms of craftsmanship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We cannot forget about the famous No. 1 Vaults. \u201cWe\u2019re also famous for the No. 1 Vaults, which are the oldest whisky aging warehouse in the world. The main door to the No. 1 Vaults sits within metres of lock-in door on the Atlantic Ocean, which allows the sea-salted air to permeate our entire distillery. Hmm, and it really gives body to our whisky,\u201d adds Mr. Neil. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Best Way to Enjoy Bowmore<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If we\u2019re talking Bowmore, we\u2019re talking Atlantic Ocean. \u201cOne of my favourite ways to enjoy Bowmore is to actually enjoy it with a freshly shucked oyster from the Atlantic Ocean. If you can get oysters from the same water, that is splashing against the walls of the No. 1 Vaults and perfuming our whisky, I think it\u2019s just such an awesome pairing. You simply take an oyster, shuck it, enjoy its unique brine, a little dash of Bowmore 12 on the oyster, drink it and consume the oyster. Once you\u2019re done, pour just a bit more whisky back into the oyster. All that sea salt flavour from the oyster right into your mouth. It\u2019s the perfect pair. Anything from the ocean pairs well with the whisky. Think of caviar, fish, etc.,\u201d added the New Brunswick-born ambassador. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Art of Time<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"The-No1-Vaults-at-Bowmore\"
Les famous N\u1d521 Vaults
Photo: Bowmore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The team at Bowmore considers the hourglass to be a very relevant symbol of the Art of Time \u201cTimeless Series\u201d. On top of explaining the aging process, the series tells the story of the first raindrops that land across the barley fields, and how they end up supporting barley\u2019s growth every step of the way. \u201cWe want to talk about the Art of Time because it is all about the aging process and how it sits and breathes inside the barrel. As the temperature changes, just by a few degrees, that barrel helps the whisky to meddle with the surrounding air, thus creating all these beautiful flavours,\u201d says Mr. Neil. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What can you say about the Art of Time in terms of the experience of enjoying single malt scotch? \u201cIn the packaging, there is a three-minute hourglass. The hourglass sort of indicates the perfect amount of time from the pour and nosing part to the actual enjoyment of Art of Time,\u201d declares the Bowmore ambassador.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Mr. Neil told us, the Art of Time is a lifelong process for Bowmore Whisky. \u201cHow many hours of smoking are we talking? How many minutes do we get to enjoy the smell? When we think about whisky and time, although we love focusing on the aging process, there are so many other key elements that come into play. It is crucial to take our time to master the process and to create the beautiful amber or deep obsidian piece of liquid art. And I think that really understanding every single step and the time it takes to go through every one of them through the distillation process is very important. So, Art of Time really embodies the appreciation of every single moment along the process,\u201d adds the whisky enthusiast. \u25b8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaborating with Aston Martin<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Black-Bowmore---DB5-1964-Aston-Martin-and-James-Neil----Photo-by-Nick-Wons\"
Mr. James Neil, a bottle of Black Bowmore DB5 1964 and an Aston Martin DBS
Photo: Nick Wons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This partnership first started based on similar values of both brands. The 21 years doesn\u2019t follow the traditional guidelines. Bowmore and Aston Martin are icons in both of their industries. Aston Martin is legendary in England for making one of the top luxury sports cars in the world and Bowmore is one of the most collected Single Malt Scotch Whiskys in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n