Bowmore, Islay’s oldest licensed Scotch distillery, just unveiled the Bowmore Captivo Collection, a limited-edition duo of 20-year-old single malts created in collaboration with acclaimed design studio Snarkitecture.
The partnership bridges fine whisky-making and modern design, drawing inspiration from both Islay’s rugged landscape and Bowmore’s venerable No.1 Vaults—one of the world’s oldest whisky maturation warehouses. Snarkitecture co-founder Alex Mustonen translated these influences into bottle and packaging designs centered around the concept of “portals,” meant to invite Scotch enthusiasts into an immersive sensory journey.
Founded in 2008 by Mustonen and Daniel Arsham, the New York-based architectural design practice is renowned for its immersive installations—such as The Beach at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. and Snark Park at New York’s Hudson Yards—as well as high-profile retail spaces for fashion brands like Kith.
“Stepping into the world of whisky is a first for Snarkitecture,” said Mustonen in a statement. “In architecture, spaces and objects invite people to look again and question their assumptions. I discovered whisky-making shares a similar philosophy, rewarding time, patience, and curiosity.”
The collection presents two distinct expressions. The U.S. release, Bowmore Captivo Oak Voyage (50.8% ABV), was aged for two decades in American oak ex-Bourbon casks before finishing in American oak Oloroso sherry butts. It’s also said to offer notes of “dark cherry, candied orange, Manuka honey, toasted oak, and a subtle whisper of campfire smoke,” according to the Scotch brand. It arrives on U.S. shelves this November with a suggested retail price of $350.
Meanwhile, the $380 Bowmore Captivo Sherry Cask Pursuit (51.8% ABV), launches in Taipei and Hong Kong later this year before expanding to other international markets. Matured in Spanish oak Oloroso sherry and American oak ex-Bourbon casks with an Oloroso hogshead finish, this expression “delivers tropical fruit, honeycomb, cracked black pepper, and charred mango balanced by sweet peat smoke.”
Dr. Calum Fraser, Master Blender of Scotch and Irish at Suntory Global Spirits, noted that both whiskies were crafted for repeated enjoyment while maintaining Bowmore’s signature balance of citrus, sweetness, and delicate smoke.
“The richness of Oak Voyage and the smooth sweetness of Sherry Cask Pursuit demonstrate the remarkable impact of time and cask selection,” Fraser said. “Snarkitecture has captured that sense of discovery brilliantly, creating designs that express the individuality of each whisky while remaining true to Bowmore’s heritage.”