Bowmore ARC-52; Ingenuity Defined
Bowmore ARC-52; Ingenuity Defined
Past meets present as Aston Martin designed, futuristic vessel unites with one of the oldest Bowmore whiskies.
June 13, 2022 – Crafted with consideration over decades, Bowmore® has an inherent appreciation as to how each moment comes to bear on the character of the whisky, and how time past has shaped today. Rooted in intentionality, we make our whiskies this way on purpose, shaping every drop, adding depth and distinction of flavour to shape our multi-dimensional single malt.
It is this precise ethos which has stimulated and imagined our 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, we 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 our oldest ever Bowmore whiskies. Never before have we showcased our inspiring partnership through such absolute innovation and collaborative creativity to bring our 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, 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, Bowmore, said “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% for an American Oak Hogshead and 50% 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 and peach melba, clementine, 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.
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Notes To Editors:
CASK TYPES: European Oak Sherry Butt and ex-Bourbon American Oak Hogshead
AGE: 52 Years Old, 1968
ABV: 42.3%
100 BOTTLES
Tasting notes
ON THE EYE: Deep burnished gold.
BREATHE IN: Creamy and fruity with notes of vanilla and custard cream but also peach, pear, kumquat, mandarin, a hint of guava with herbal notes of fresh mint and eucalyptus.
TASTE: Sweet, fruity and citric with flavour of green grapes and peach melba, clementine, lime zest but also nutty notes of almond and hazelnuts, tobacco leaves with a lightly peaty ashy and buttery character.
SAVOUR: Herbal and medicinal with exotic fruits, praline and butterscotch note
ABOUT BOWMORE®
For over 240 years, the Bowmore Distillery has been capturing the essence of Islay from the shores of its remote island home. Shaped by centuries of skill and tradition, Bowmore’s single malt harnesses the power of this time in every single drop, defined by the past and savoured in the present.
Time is defining at Bowmore® and we tirelessly harness the power of time to shape our whiskies. Our distillery’s adherence to traditional production methods helps to shape the character of our fruity and smoky single malts. Today, we are amongst one of a few distilleries which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by a traditional wooden malt shovel and hand drawn machinery. Water for the whiskies is specially drawn from the Laggan River, with its rich peaty overtones – the same Islay peat that fires the malt-drying kiln.
Bowmore® Distillery's proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of its spirit and gives a hint of sea air to the character. The legendary Bowmore® No. 1 Vaults is where most of the whiskies spend their long lives resting quietly in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the vault's sea-facing wall.
Matured in oak casks, previously used for bourbon, sherry, or claret, over time developing rich and mellow flavours until the expertise of our whisky makers deems them ready for bottling. It is this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people, and tradition that makes Bowmore the exceptional single malt it is today.
Time is marked on each and every bottle of Bowmore, proudly and boldly as a marker of where and when each one’s journey began. This is our story of time. This is Bowmore; the Art of Time since 1779.
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ABOUT BEAM SUNTORY
As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark® bourbon brands, Suntory whisky Kakubin and Courvoisier® cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek®, Basil Hayden’s® and Legent™ bourbon; Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™ Japanese whisky; Teacher’s, Laphroaig® and Bowmore® Scotch whisky; Canadian Club® whisky; Hornitos® and Sauza® tequila; EFFEN®, Haku® and Pinnacle® vodka; Sipsmith® and Roku™ gin; and On The Rocks® Premium Cocktails.
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good, which now includes its transformative sustainability strategy, Proof Positive. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit https://www.beamsuntory.com/ and https://www.drinksmart.com/.
© 2022 Beam Suntory, Inc., Merchandise Mart, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60654
ABOUT ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA
Aston Martin Lagonda is a luxury automotive group focused on the creation of exclusive cars and SUVs. The iconic Aston Martin brand fuses the latest technology, exceptional hand craftsmanship and timeless design to produce models including the Vantage, DB11, DBS Superleggera and the new SUV, DBX. Based in Gaydon, England, Aston Martin Lagonda designs, creates and exports cars which are sold in 51 countries around the world.
Lagonda was founded in 1899 and Aston Martin in 1913. The two brands came together in 1947 when both were purchased by the late Sir David Brown.
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