This Bowmore 1998 12 year old, attractive Coopers Choice bottling has matured in Refill Butt number 3842 before bottling in 2009 at 46%.

780 bottles were filled.

Bowmore is the oldest working distillery on Islay. Opened in 1779 in the town of Bowmore, the islands capital, as a business venture - unlike a lot of illegal distilleries turned legal. Built on the edge of Loch Indaal facing Bruichladdich distillery (now managed by one of the whisky worlds greatest ambassadors, who started his working life at Bowmore as a cooper, working his way through the ranks to that of manager of Bowmore distillery).

As far ago as 1837 Bowmore was sold as a single malt, a pioneer undoubtedly. During the visit of Alfred Barnard in the 1880's it was the second most productive distillery after Ardbeg. It has, like most distilleries, a history of hard times and long periods of idleness. From the 1950's the distillery has changed hands several times, but also gone from strength to strength. The distillery still produces some 40% of it's own malt, the peat for malting being cut locally. It has four gas fired stills, two wash and two spirit, producing (by Islay's standards) a medium peaty style of malt whisky. The distillery has a superb visitor centre and is the most visited on the island. Interestingly surplus heat from the stills is used to heat the towns swimming pool next door.