Scotland, Isle of Islay. Distillery operational. Owner: Beam - Suntory

Located on the Isle of Islay, in the heart of the village of the same name, in 1963 Bowmore became, under the aegis of Stanley P. Morrison (owner of the distillery until it was bought by the Japanese company Suntory in 1994), one of the greatest commercial successes in the Scotch whisky industry. Vault #1, responsible for some of its greatest releases, including Bowmore 30 Year Old 1963 and Bowmore Bicentenary, played an important role in forging its international reputation. Built below sea level against a natural dyke, its walls and beaten earth floors are constantly steeped in sea spray. Rooted in tradition, Bowmore is one of the last remaining distilleries to malt part of its own barley on-site. Whether matured in bourbon casks (White Bowmore 1964) or sherry casks (Black Bowmore 1964), its spirit, characterized by notes of liquorice, peat and eucalyptus, never fails to reveal the trademark hint of exotic fruit for which the distillery is known.

A single cask Bowmore (#2645) distilled in 2000 and bottled at cask strength in 2011 by Italian bottler Wilson & Morgan. Finished in a sherry cask. Wilson & Morgan was founded in 1992 by the Rossi family in Treviso. The son of a Venetian wine and oil merchant, Mario Rossi diversified the family business to include whisky importation after WWII, starting with blends in the 1970s, before moving onto single malts in the 1990s. It was one of his two sons, Fabio, a trained oenologist, who developed the bottling side of the business. Wilson & Morgan is known for its excellent taste in original finishes, such as port, rum and sherry casks.