If you are digging for more info on Scotch....it'd be hard to go wrong with this little book:
The Single Malt Whisky Companion. Isbn:0-517-22532-8.
Not only does this give a little history, tasting tips...it also is a nice directory of various distilleries...so it's great if you want to search out a whisky you haven't tried before. It also gives tasting notes on the various makes, and bottlings.

To me, Bowmore makes a fine everyday single malt... it isn't too edxpensive, and tastes great. Not the high end Bowmore... Bowmore Legend.