Beam Suntory has released two new whiskies from the limited-edition ‘Bowmore No Corners to Hide’ collection into global travel retail.
Bowmore No Corners to Hide is an exciting collaboration between world-renowned graphic and comic book artist Frank Quitely and Bowmore Master Blender Ron Welsh.
The first release from the limited-edition series features two single malts, a 23 Year Old and 32 Year Old, which are now exclusively available in selected global travel retail stores in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Vienna, Dubai, Singapore and Taiwan.
The two whiskies were inspired by a myth from the island of Islay, home to the Bowmore Distillery. Each bottle in the collaboration features exclusive designs from Scotsman Quitely, who has illustrated for Marvel and DC Comics. The illustrations portray the rich and evocative history of Islay and represent the artistic expression of Bowmore’s 240-year heritage on the island.
“To get the call from Bowmore, a legendary icon in the world of whisky, was offering me the opportunity of retelling the Islay Legend No Corners to Hide was hugely exciting” says Quitely. “And to do this in a single image would prove massively challenging but taking inspiration in the Devil himself, it’s all in the detail.”
Bowmore No Corners to Hide takes inspiration from Islay’s most notorious myth, which says that in 1837 the devil himself visited the round church in Bowmore. The building’s round shape was purposefully prepared for the visit, as it offered no corners for the devil to hide. Despite the congregation’s best efforts to chase the devil from the church to the Bowmore distillery, where they bolted the gates and locked the doors, the devil had managed to escape.
That same night, The Maid of Islay, a small paddle steamer used to transport Bowmore whiskey, was loaded with casks for the mainland. While the devil was never found, it was believed that he hid himself in a cask, where perversely, there too were no corners to hide.
The 23 Year Old single malt offers notes of beeswax, incense and a struck match that together capture the essence of Bowmore’s round church. It features golden syrup, acacia honey and marzipan notes on the palate, blended with subtle peat smoke on the nose. Each bottle in the limited release features illustrations and sketches by Quitely.
The 32 Year Old was developed with an initial 30 years of maturation in ex-bourbon American oak hogsheads. This was followed by two further maturation years in Essencia barriques that created a distinctive flavour, blending beeswax, incense and a struck match. The whisky also offers hints of orange peel, aromas of old cigar box, with a sweet liquorice finish. Each 32 Year Old bottle comes with a signed print from Quitely alongside original sketches and notes about the whisky-making process.
Commenting on the collaboration, Welsh said: “Much like the devil, both aged spirits took their own particularly unusual defining journey in Essencia barriques, a peculiarly rare Rose Oak dating back to the 1830s. The tasting notes reflect the notes from the story and in each sip transports you to that cold winter’s night.”
Beam Suntory Global Travel Retail Marketing Director Manuel González said: “Bowmore has a rich history filled with myths and legends, and we’re delighted to partner with the award-winning Frank Quitely to bring these tales to life. Possessing a proven track record of producing collectible artwork with both Marvel and DC, the Frank Quitely Collection is our latest exciting collaboration to offer luxury limited-editions to our customers.”
Tasting Notes
23-Year-Old: 51.5% ABV
COLOUR: Deep Gold
NOSE: Medicinal, floral, and spicy, with fragrance of white roses, peonies, sweet peas, and gardenias
TASTE: Sweet notes of golden syrup, acacia honey and marzipan with peaty sooty taste and oily peppery mouthfeel
FINISH:Creamy, lightly salty, and spicy
RRP: US$400
32-Year-Old : 47.3% ABV
COLOUR:Burnished Gold
NOSE: Zesty Seville orange peel, old cigar box, Manuka honey, salted caramel, and light gorse flower
TASTE: Touch of liquorice, sweet fresh tobacco, oak spice, nutmeg, peppercorn and cloves, vanilla, peat smoke and iodine
FINISH: Mouth warming, dry grass, and subtle smoke
RRP: US$2,995
Beam Suntory is a return exhibitor for the Virtual Travel Retail Expo, which announced a pioneering Buyers and Brands Bonanza Month in November, part of the six-week ‘encore’ exhibition period.
As reported, Virtual Suites will remain open throughout the entire period from today until 30 November with the month of November seeing an unprecedented festival of celebration to maximise exhibitor/visitor engagement.
