Moodie Davitt Spotlight Series eZine: Bowmore Appellations opens a new chapter in a richly storied history

Click here to read the Bowmore Spotlight Series eZine
“Our ethos at Bowmore is to leave no stone unturned when it comes to quality” – Calum Fraser. Image Copyright: Grant Anderson.

Welcome to the latest Moodie Davitt Spotlight Series eZine, where we celebrate Bowmore’s near 250-year legacy.

The Scotch whisky house has been undergoing a holistic brand revamp over the last two years.

Now it is entering the next, exciting stage of its premiumisation journey with the launch of Bowmore Appellations, a travel retail-exclusive collection and the subject of this edition.

Bowmore Appellations sees the Islay distillery blend its distinctive peated whisky with cask finishes from some of the world’s finest wine-producing regions, including Burgundy and Bordeaux to the Douro Valley.

To understand the inspiration, craft and technique from which the Appellations range was born, we chat with Bowmore Master Blender Calum Fraser to discuss Bowmore’s idiosyncratic character and his ‘no stone unturned’ approach to quality and cask selection.

(Above and below) The travel retail-exclusive Bowmore Appellations range blends Islay Peat with flavours from Burgundy, Bordeaux and the Douro Valley

For Bowmore, combining legacy with modernity and elevation is a delicate balancing act. It is one carefully managed by, among many others, Bowmore Global Marketing Manager Ekaterina Kolesnik and Suntory Global Spirits Senior Marketing Manager – Prestige Brands Kshama Alur.

In the eZine, we speak with two dynamic women instrumental in writing Bowmore’s next chapter. Kolesnik and Alur offer their collective insight into Bowmore’s wider rebrand, how that will in turn manifest in travel retail and how it is centred on Bowmore’s multidimensional character.

Bowmore’s premiumisation is part of Suntory Global Spirits’ wider elevation journey as the Japanese powerhouse continues to differentiate its single malt whisky portfolio within a challenging spirits market.

(Above and below) Bowmore Appellations is part of Suntory Global Spirits’ broader strategy to elevate and premiumise its single malt whisky offerings. It is rolling out in global travel retail, starting with London Heathrow and Singapore Changi Airport this month. 

In a candid video interview onboard Suntory Global Spirits’ Sirocco Yacht during the recent TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes (see page 8), Suntory Global Spirits Managing Director Global Travel Retail Ashish Gandham discusses the “exceptionally expressive” Bowmore Appellations range and explore travel retail’s critical role during what he describes as a “pivotal moment” for the wider spirits sector.

Finally, we offer a behind the scenes look at Bowmore’s Islay distillery, one of the oldest in Scotland. Bowmore Distillery Manager David Turner gives The Moodie Davitt Report a rare look into how the facility operates, culminating with a visit to the renowned No.1 Vaults.

From the rugged shores of Islay to the global travel retail stage, Bowmore’s evolution continues, offering whisky aficionados an experience that transcends time and borders. We invite you to explore this new era with Bowmore, where legacy and modernity converge to create exceptional moments, one sip at a time. ✈

The Moodie Davitt Report Brands Director Hannah Tan

The Moodie Davitt Report has launched the TREX Awards, designed to champion the critical differentiation that travel retail-exclusive products bring to the channel. Full details will be revealed soon.

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