Crafted with consideration over decades, Bowmore has an inherent appreciation as to how each moment comes to bear on the character of their whisky, and how time past has shaped today. Rooted in intentionality, they make their whiskies this way on purpose, shaping every drop, adding depth and distinction of flavour to shape their multi-dimensional single malt.
It is this precise ethos which has stimulated and imagined their latest creation – a true coming together of heritage and innovation. At its heart, this is a celebration of how, along with ultra-luxury British brand, Aston Martin, they strive for constant evolution and ingenuity to provoke, inspire and excite.
Bowmore ARC-52 is the story of ground-breaking Aston Martin design bringing to life a striking decanter, unlike anything ever seen before, containing one of their oldest ever Bowmore whiskies. Never before have they showcased their inspiring partnership through such absolute innovation and collaborative creativity to bring their worlds together so boldly and definitively.
In its physical form, this is an ingenious object; half Bowmore, half Aston Martin, travelling in two directions at the same time, exploring the ideals of balance, capturing perfect stability combined with definitive intensity. It is this concept of balance which defines every aspect of ARC-52. Taking the very same approach to achieving balance and optimal form when designing an Aston Martin, this vessel calls on these exacting principles from the latest 3D printing to hand crafted clay modelling in realising its form.
The cutting edge engineering of Aston Martin combined with the unfaltering attention to detail and craftsmanship of Bowmore has made ARC-52 a reality. Bringing these two worlds together has not been without challenge and has seen considerable time invested to realise the vision. From the meticulously engineered, bespoke magnetic key which releases the striking aluminium top almost by magic, whilst maintaining the sleek, clean lines to the individually, hand blown glass, this is design on a different scale.
Marek Reichman, chief creative officer at Aston Martin, said: “ARC–52 sits at the apex of our partnership, truly showing the depth of what we can create collaboratively. We set out to produce something which hasn’t been seen before, capturing our uncompromised design principles and also the magnificence of the whisky. I believe that what we have created is truly a piece of sculpture.
“Taking balance as the most important factor, as we do in designing Aston Martin cars, we’ve harnessed heritage and innovation in perfect balance. For me there is just so much to discover with this whisky as it embodies so much hidden knowledge and even the colour looks like it’s been created by time.”
Ron Welsh, master blender at Bowmore, added: “A Bowmore as exquisite and complex as this 52 year old is testament to the skills of our distillery team and their commitment to optimising the time spent in cask to create such an incredible spirit. With ARC-52 the complexity of this single malt is unquestionable and to achieve such perfect balance not only defines its physical form but unites beautifully in every drop of this stunning whisky.
“Working with Aston Martin remains hugely rewarding and fascinating for me. It continues to inspire and show us a different way of working, with absolute precision, and has allowed us to create what, in my opinion, is the best Bowmore over 50 years old that I’ve ever tasted.”
Matured for a remarkable 52 years in a marriage of two cask styles, married in two exact parts – 50 per cent for an American Oak Hogshead and 50 per cent from a European Oak Butt, this single malt promises unquestionable complexity but is perfectly balanced by bringing together these individual styles in equal parts. Timelessly capturing the classic Bowmore character as it signals the crescendo with herbal and medicinal notes combined with exotic fruits, praline and butterscotch to finish.
Creamy and fruity aromas of vanilla and custard cream are carefully balanced with peach, pear, kumquat, mandarin, a hint of guava with herbal notes of fresh mint and eucalyptus. On the palate this continues to evolve as flavours of green grapes, peach melba, clementine and lime zest merge seamlessly alongside nutty notes of almond and hazelnuts, whilst tobacco leaves give way to a subtle peat ash and buttery character.
The first in a new inspiring Series, just 100 decanters of ARC-52 will be available in key global markets including UK, Germany, Netherlands, USA, Canada, China, Singapore, and Global Travel Retail at an RSP of US$75,000 (ex VAT/duty) from late summer 2022.
Visit bowmore.com to discover more.
