Bowmore Offers Incredibly Rare Scotch Whisky On Its Captivating Islay Experience

Bowmore is responsible for some of the rarest—and priciest—scotch on the planet. Last October a single bottle of the distillery’s oldest whisky (entered into barrel in 1962) sold for nearly a quarter of a million US dollars. The Black Bowmore, meanwhile, originally distilled in 1964, tops the list of many a connoisseur’s “bucket list drams.” But in the modern era, this legendary malt maker has evolved to offer more than just stunning liquid, it promises unforgettable experiences to match.

Earlier this spring, it unveiled the latest example of such. Captivating Islay is a distillery tour like no other. The daylong adventure offers guests an opportunity to discover hidden corners of the brand’s idyllic Hebridean home, sampling an array of preciously allocated whiskies along the way. And chauffeured all the while in an Aston Martin DBX Bowmore Edition, a $287,000 luxury SUV—one of only 16 ever produced.

You’ll start with a short walk out to Kilnaughton Bay, where the crisp maritime air marries soulfully against aromas of sea salt and campfire kindling from the day’s first dram: Bowmore 22 Year Old Aston Martin Masters’ Selection. During a makeshift picnic on the beach, lessons in how the terrain shapes the tipple begin in earnest. They continue up the road at the River Laggan, the distillery’s fast-flowing water source. Washing over eons of peat as it descends from hill to coast, it picks up a slightly rusty hue, evoking the very scotch it’ll someday create. More surprise drams away at the Bridgend Hotel, paired with a roaring fire and a lunch of local fare.

“The Captivating Islay experience is perfect for those looking for a truly unique, immersive and elevated whisky experience,” according to Daryl Haldane, global private client director for Bowmore. “There is no better way to get closer to Islay’s history and charm than from the comfort and excitement of the chauffeur driven Bowmore Edition Aston Martin DBX.”

The program concludes, naturally, with a walk-thru of the 245-year-old distillery. But not before stepping into Bowmore’s oldest dunnage warehouse to hand fill a bottle of single malt that’s been maturing there since 1998. The historic No.1 Vaults skirt the sea in the cozy maritime village that lends the brand its name and the 700ml keepsake that guests come away with more than justifies the tour’s outsized price tag.

That figure is currently set at $1000 per person—a cost that doesn’t include lodging or transit to and from Islay. Expect to tack on another $250 per night to stay at the Bowmore Cottages, across the street from the distillery. Though you can also enjoy more sumptuous 4-star accommodations at Another Place, The Machrie for roughly that same amount. Then it’s about $350 for roundtrip airfare from and back to Glasgow on Loganair—the only scheduled commercial flight path. The small prop plane takes just 40 minutes to transit beyond the city over the western edge of Scotland.

As any scotch lover will tell you, a visit to Islay is an obligatory pilgrimage. This rugged landscape is the spiritual home of peated single malt and today boasts nine working distilleries to go along with just 3,200 year-round residents. All of those operations welcome guests year-round, but Captivating Islay currently stands apart as the most culturally comprehensive offering, one which seamlessly integrates the landscape with the liquid. Make no mistake: it is a sparse landscape that can prove tricky to navigate. Which is where that designated driver—and high end luxury vehicle—are especially appreciated.

The tour exists as a culmination of four years worth of combined efforts between the scotch maker and the celebrated luxury automotive brand. Back in 2020 the companies unveiled their first collaboration, a Black Bowmore DB5 Edition. The 31-year-old sherry bomb explodes in torrents of coconut and pineapple fruit before an unctuous, lingering finish of tobacco smoke. It sits in a decanter customized with solid brass latch and hinges, plated with nickel to evoke an early ‘60s-era DB5. Only 25 bottles in total were released, with a single one fetching over $200,000 on secondary markets today. Shortly thereafter, the partnership continued with the Bowmore-accented DBX.

“The details make it,” says Haldane of the 542-horsepower SUV. “Copper from the stills at Bowmore were used for the inlays. Interior fabrics were woven at the local Islay Woolen Mill. There’s even a map of Islay embroidered on the head rests. It’s one of only 16. So, the fact we have one of these incredible creations on Islay is already special in its own right.”

Like we said at the start: Bowmore strives to deliver lasting experiences alongside its memorable malt. Its continued partnership with Aston Martin has proven to be an ideal vehicle to deliver such. That being said, when you’re making the case for how captivating Islay can be, serving up well-aged pours of peated scotch never hurts.