Since 2020 Bowmore and Aston Martin have a partnership that entails creating unique restricted editions, combining their focus for luxurious and timeless design. It began with the DB5 Black Bowmore, bottled in a real piston. One other milestone was Bowmore ARC-52 offered in a futuristic decanter impressed by the diffusor of the Aston Martin Valkyrie.
Bowmore ARC-54 impressed by Aston Martin
Now there’s an older model in the identical bizarrely lovely bottle: Bowmore ARC-54. This distinctive 54 yr outdated whisky was distilled in November 1968. The vast majority of the spirit aged in a second-fill European oak sherry butt, the remaining in a third-fill American oak hogshead. These have been married collectively for a ultimate 15 months. I suppose this marrying interval wasn’t counted, since 1968 + 54 = 2022.
Within the run-up to tasting ARC-54 I received to strive the brand new Sherry Oak collection as properly. The 15 Years, 18 Years and 21 Years are left a extremely good impression. The sherry affect is sort of balanced – solely the 21 12 months Previous is maybe a tad an excessive amount of when it comes to syrupy PX notes. I’m significantly delighted that Bowmore managed to convey again a few of their tropical fruitiness (much like the legendary Nineteen Sixties whiskies) beneath the sherry. Particularly the 15 12 months Previous Sherry Oak has an incredible stability – keep tuned for my assessment.
Now again to ARC-54. Should you’ve ever tried Bowmore 1968 then we’re in for a deal with. We hear the collaboration with Aston Martin is about to finish, so we’re eager to search out out in regards to the subsequent steps for Bowmore.
Bowmore 40 yo 1968 ‘ARC-54’ (44,3%, OB 2025, second-fill sherry butt + third-fill bourbon hogshead, 130 btl.)
Nostril: very forthcoming, with the everyday mentholated fruitiness of Bowmore. Tropical fruits certainly: pink grapefruit and pineapple, later additionally thicker hints of peach and guava. Refined vanilla and rose pepper. Good eucalyptus. Then hints of leather-based, touches of walnuts and polished furnishings. Fairly nice, with solely a really delicate smoky contact – form of an oriental trace of outdated wooden.
Mouth: loads of juicy fruits once more. Bergamot stands out, with mango and pink grapefruit standing out once more. Refined greener fruits too: Granny Smith and lime (leaves). Not the (implausible) hints of ardour fruits that you simply received in youthful 1968s, sadly. Then hints of vanilla once more, with cinnamon and delicate hints of rose petals. The smoke is barely louder than the nostril instructed, however nonetheless properly comfortable. Later additionally hints of candied ginger and mint.
End: lengthy and clean, with lingering fruits overtaken by natural notes, light oak and echoes of peat.
Actually excellent. The fruitiness is much less explosive than what you get in youthful Nineteen Sixties Bowmore, however nonetheless spectacular. The added complexity is nice, including loads of tiny notes over time. Pretty whisky from a legendary classic. Solely 130 decanters can be found for round € 81.000. Have a look at it from the brilliant facet: that is the most cost effective choice to develop into an Aston Martin proprietor.
