In 2022, scotch whisky distillery Bowmore and luxury automobile brand Aston Martin teamed up to release a 52-year-old single malt called ARC-52 that came in a futuristic-looking vessel, the likes of which hadn’t been seen before. The distillery just announced the details of the second and final ARC release, which ups the age of the whisky to 54 years old and comes in a newly designed decanter that happens to be just as bizarrely beautiful.
Bowmore and Aston Martin have been partners for several years, releasing other much more accessible (and affordable) whiskies in the Masters’ Selection series, along with the extremely rarified 52-year-old Black Bowmore DB5 1964. ARC-54 was distilled in 1968 and aged for more than half a century, at least part of which was spent in the distillery’s No. 1 Vaults in a second-fill European oak sherry butt and third-fill American oak hogshead. The blend was inspired by the Golden Ratio: 61.8 percent whisky aged in European oak and 38.2 percent aged in American oak, which were married together for a final 15 months before being bottled in this stunning decanter. The design was inspired by the exterior of Aston Martin’s Valkyrie hypercar, which in turn was inspired by the design of Formula 1 race cars. “In creating the ARC-54 decanter, similar principles of materiality and fluid dynamics are employed, replacing air flow for liquid movement to create a uniquely formed shape generated by the pure movement of Bowmore whisky,” said Marek Reichman, Aston Martin executive VP and chief creative officer, in a statement.
The distillery has also teamed up with writer and poet Sophia Thakur to create what it calls a “global anthem” that was unveiled at the ARC-54 launch event in London this week. Thakur admits to being a newcomer when it comes to whisky making, but she has become captivated by the craft. “Although it’s a different medium to the one I work in, there are so many parallels and synergies,” she said in a statement. “Like how a poem continues to reveal itself over the years depending on how still a reader is willing to be with it, or how both whisky and words can change their meaning and poignance over time, and that everyone’s experience of them is entirely personal and unique.”
Only a lucky few will be able to have a personal and unique experience with ARC-54 because there are only 130 bottles being released globally, each with a price tag of $80,000. We did not get to try this extremely rare whisky, but the official tasting notes describe citrus and floral notes on the palate combined with salty caramel sweetness, spiced ginger, and cinnamon, followed by a “whisper” of peat smoke. ARC-54 will be available at select retailers starting this month, and you can find other Bowmore whiskies, including previous Aston Martin collaborations, available to purchase from ReserveBar now.
Authors
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Jonah Flicker