Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky today unveiled the second of its limited-edition collection, Designed by Aston Martin, which is exclusive to global travel retail from August.
Bowmore and Aston Martin have also launched a limited-edition ARC-52 expression, which they said is the “pinnacle of the partnership and the most ambitious collaboration to date”. This combines one of the oldest whiskies released by the distillery, a 52 Year old single malt, with a futuristic vessel.
Designed by Aston Martin
Following the inaugural release in 2021, the new collection celebrates the coming together of Bowmore’s travel retail whiskies with the design of Aston Martin to create a striking limited-edition bottle and pack design. This new visual story highlights three different cars pivotal to the evolution of Aston Martin, and celebrates the connection and stories between the worlds of single malt and luxury cars.
For this series in the annually released collection, the existing Bowmore 10, 15 and 18-Year-Old single malts provided inspiration to Aston Martin’s design experts to select cars and their stories which showcase the character of each of the whiskies.
The Bowmore 10 Year Old is paired with the Aston Martin 1922 GP ‘TT2’, which was designed solely to take part in the French Grand Prix. The brand owner said that it “tells a story of ground-breaking vision and strength of character”. The depth of Bowmore 10 Year Old has been accelerated by the selection of Sherry Oak casks for maturation.
The Aston Martin AM V8 and Bowmore 15 Years Old reflect “refinement and elegance” in the respective creations, said Beam Suntory.
The AM V8 symbolises a definitive chapter of signature styling for Aston Martin with its elegant lines and shapes. Bowmore 15 Years Old takes its refined character from a combination of first fill Bourbon and hogsheads.
Bowmore 18 Year Old is paired with the Aston Martin 1959 DBR4, which captures Aston Martin’s ambition to enter the highly competitive arena of Formula One motor racing. The 18 Year Old achieves complexity and balance, said Beam Suntory, through the use of Oloroso and PX Sherry casks.
Bowmore is marking the launch of the Designed by Aston Martin range with in-store activations in 17 airports, including priority locations such as London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Sanya (Hainan) and Taipei.
‘Movement of the Senses’ is a shopper experience that explores the rich and vibrant histories of both Bowmore and Aston Martin, exclusively inviting travellers to ‘Experience Legacies Forged Through Time’. The in-store activations shine a spotlight on how two different worlds have come together to form a successful partnership.
Displays showcase materials from Aston Martin and Bowmore, headphones to amplify the sounds made by both brands, and interactive audio-visual content.
Bowmore ARC-52
The Bowmore ARC-52, the first in a new series, is also available to global travel retail. It represents a new take on bottle design married with the 52 Year Old single malt, one of the rarest and oldest Bowmore whiskies to be released.
The design, said Beam Suntory, “merges natural and man-made contours in a provocative form, effectively balancing on two points and making it seem almost weightless – much like each Aston Martin is imagined – and realises its true form through the latest 3D printing and hand-crafted clay modelling.
“The Bowmore ARC-52 features a bespoke magnetic key which releases the striking aluminium top almost by magic, sleek clean lines, and individually hand-blown glass. This is simply design on a completely different scale.”
Matured for 52 years in a marriage of two cask styles in two exact parts – 50% for an American Oak Hogshead and 50% from a European Oak Butt – the single malt is highly complex and is balanced by bringing together these individual styles. (See tasting notes below).
Just 100 decanters of Bowmore ARC-52 will be released on a staggered basis. Each bottle is numbered with a certificate of authentication.
A total of 14 bottles of Bowmore ARC-52 are available to global travel retail, with seven bottles released this Summer and a further seven bottles offered in early 2023. Bowmore ARC-52 will be available at airports in London, Singapore, Istanbul, Hainan, Taipei, Dubai and Paris.
Beam Suntory Marketing Director of Global Travel Retail Manuel González said: “We’re delighted to unveil the second Designed by Aston Martin range exclusively to global travel retail. Following the success of the first series, we know that our customers love this exciting collaboration which unites our exceptional travel retail whiskies with the incredible talent of Aston Martin’s design team and gives them a reason to engage and discover everything that is magical about Bowmore.
“We’re also thrilled to be able to offer the exceptionally rare Bowmore ARC-52 to global travel retail. We have combined the cutting-edge design by Aston Martin and the craftsmanship of Bowmore to create a unique and a one-of-a-kind offering that collectors are guaranteed to fall in love with. Our partnership with Aston Martin is a prime example of how we are investing in the premiumisation of our GTR portfolio through a combination of exciting innovations and special limited editions.”
Tasting Notes (from Beam Suntory)
Bowmore 10 Year Old – 40% ABV
On the eye: Dark amber
Breathe In: Sun-dried fruit, baked Seville orange and toasted maple
Sip: Sultanas, sea salt and dark fruit oils
Savour: Peat-smoked walnut and spices
RRSP: US$59.00
Bowmore 15 Years Old – 43% ABV
On the eye: Golden barley
Breathe In: Sicilian golden desserts with honey, Amalfi lemon and sweet tobacco leaf
Sip: Silky citrus, salty-sweet vanilla and honeycomb
Savour: Peat smoke, sweet almond and lingering lemon
RRSP: US$80.00
Bowmore 18 Years Old – 43% ABV
On the eye: Deepest Sunset
Breathe In: Rich dark chocolate, treacle toffee and date oil
Sip: Bitter-sweet orange peel and pat-smoke roasted coffee
Savour: Velvet mocha and macadamia nut chocolate
RRSP: US$121.00
Bowmore Arc – 42.3% ABV
On the eye: Deep burnished gold
Breathe In: Creamy and fruity with notes of vanilla and custard cream but also peach, pear, kumquat, mandarin, a hint of guava with herbal notes of fresh mint and eucalyptus
Sip: Sweet, fruity and citric with flavour of green grapes and peach melba, clementine, lime zest but also nutty notes of almond and hazelnuts, tobacco leaves with a lightly peaty ashy and buttery character
Savour: Herbal and medicinal with exotic fruits, praline and butterscotch note
