Bowmore is Islay's first licensed distillery. Since 1779 it has stood on the shores of Lochindaal, a sea loch that opens into the wild Atlantic Ocean. To this day, the distillery still operates in the traditional way, honoring the whiskey-making techniques of its origins. Bowmore is still handcrafted today. Time is invested in every step. Care and attention to detail create Bowmore's unique and timeless house style. Unparalleled single malts that remain unchanged and age like no other on Islay. Some historians believe the name Bowmore comes from a small black cliff just outside Lochindaal, while others refer to the Norse term for a submerged rock, bogha mor, as the origin. Whatever the truth, there is a forte with the area. Home to one of the oldest scotch maturation warehouses in the world, the No. 1 Vaults. It is in this legendary warehouse that Bowmore single malts have been meticulously matured and transformed for more than 240 years.