With phenomenal design and architecture expertise, Aston Martin is indisputably the king of cars, and a precious Bowmore spirit housed within a special decanter designed by Aston Martin is exceptionally rare. Both houses collaborated to bring forth a one-off bottle of the distillery’s oldest ever whiskies, Bowmore ARC-52 Mokume Edition.
The whiskey is an exceptional blend of some of the oldest Bowmore vintages from the 1960s, a legendary period in Bowmore distillation, made by Master Blender Ron Welsh. The name of the concept behind this one-of-a-kind edition stems from Japanese metalworking technique “Mokume-Gane,” which produces a mixed metal laminate with unique layered patterns. The carbon fiber top of the decanter reflects a black mokume texture much like layered natural rock resembling the black rocks in the bay of Loch Indaal, home to the Bowmore Distillery, and also the inside of the charred cask where the special 52-year-old whisky was aged.
The structure effortlessly integrates the natural and artificial contours making it appear nearly weightless. The initial concept was rooted in the principles of Aston Martin design to achieve proportions that look robust yet polished and light, a harmony that is one of the driving imperatives in car design. The vessel’s design incorporates the latest 3D printing and hand-crafted clay modeling to realize its form.
Ron Welsh, Master Blender at Bowmore, said, “The very concept of ARC is itself spectacular in both form and contents, but this one-off creation adds even greater depth, intrigue, and inspiration to the story of ARC. By creating this unique Mokume edition, we can also fulfill our ambition to ‘give back’ to our home place through The Bowmore Legacy, by offering collectors and Bowmore lovers something truly special and desirable. As one of my last projects for Bowmore, this one is exceptionally close to my heart and is the perfect climax to an incredibly rewarding and exciting career.”
The special blend of the 52 year old vintage whisky boasts a range of flavors of green apple, apricot and tangerine, enhanced with nutty notes of macadamia and walnuts, giving it a rich mouthfeel.
Sotheby’s has set records for both the brands in recent years. In 2021, the bottle of Black Bowmore Aston Martin DB5, inspired by the Aston Martin car driven by the famous spy James Bond in movie Goldfinger, achieved $118,750 at Sotheby’s auction. With an estimate to fetch £140,000-220,000, the Bowmore ARC-52 Mokume Edition will be presented at Sotheby’s in London on May 26, 2023. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the people of Islay across a range of vital initiatives with the key goal of supporting and futureproof Islay’s distilling industry for tomorrow by investing in today.
The fortunate collector to win the bid will also get a chance to enjoy an experience at Bowmore Distillery and on Islay, experiencing the limited-edition Aston Martin DBX Bowmore Edition, the brand’s first luxury SUV.