The Bowmore 21 Year Old Sherry Oak Collection has been named World’s Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2026. The ceremony took place on 25 March at the Waldorf in London.
The expression is bottled at 46.8% vol., matured in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks with a first-fill Pedro Ximénez sherry cask finish. It sits at the top of the Sherry Oak Collection, launched in 2024 across four expressions: 12, 15, 18 and 21 years old. The judges recognised its balance of Islay peat and sherry sweetness, an uncommon pairing for a distillery that works in layers rather than intensity.
Bowmore has followed the recognition with an international roadshow, “A Journey Through Flavour Stories”, bringing tastings of the core range and Sherry Oak Collection to Europe, Asia and North America. European stops include London, Stockholm, Vienna, Zurich and Brussels. No Italian dates have been announced.
Bowmore, founded in 1779 as Islay’s first licensed distillery, has long built its identity around the balance of peat and sherry. The 21 Year Old Sherry Oak makes the strongest case for it yet.
