The Launch of Bowmore ARC-54 with Aston Martin

Bowmore ARC-54 flawlessly merges the art of motor design with the craftsmanship of whisky blending. At its lavish launch at The OWO, a single decanter of this sacred liquid sat atop a podium in the centre of the grand, high-ceilinged room, bathed in spotlight from every angle. Positioned like a precious gem in a museum exhibit, the whisky was on display as if under the watchful gaze of security. After hearing from its creators, I realised that ARC-54 is truly the crown jewel of the whisky world—and here’s why.

The Design

This is not the first partnership between Aston Martin and Bowmore, the relationship between the two brands began in late 2019 with the launch of the Black Bowmore DB5 1964 in the summer of 2020. Both brands, although differing in offering, share an esteemed dedication to quality craftsmanship that they bond over. Bowmore ARC-45 is a continued embodiment of that bond. The handblown glass decanter itself is near-impossible to create, standing on upon three legs with curvaceous sides and coming into a metallic point at the top. The shape is unique but, for motorheads or serious F1 fans, it may a bring an aura of familiarity.

Perching upon sculpted legs with its flowing features, the decanter takes inspiration from the aerodynamic Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar, as well as the rolling hills and terroir of Islay. Marek Reichman, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer of Aston Martin commented, “Bowmore ARC-54 continues the cutting edge, technology-based collaboration between two exceptional brands that are steeped in heritage and tradition. It embodies the innovative thinking that we apply to Valkyrie and Valhalla, our mid-engined sports cars. Both of these cars push the boundaries of technology through materials, aerodynamics and performance. 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. A truly creative collaboration.”

The Liquid

Bowmore ARC-54 is about as exclusive as drinking experiences get. With only 130 bottles released globally and a decanter designed in collaboration with Aston Martin—arguably Britain’s most iconic carmaker—this is a bottle made to stand out. Should you find one gleaming in your drinks cabinet (and have the shelf space to house its Valkyrie-inspired curves), consider it a rare privilege.To have swilled and sipped at even a thimbleful of its nectar, in itself, is enough to make you feel as though you are savouring a gilded drop of something untouchable.

Now, onto the liquid itself. Through the glass, it gleams with the hue of spun gold. On the nose, fresh-baked buttery shortbread and a whisper of butterscotch unfold into soft notes of peach and mango. Linger a little longer and a fresh depth emerges—eucalyptus, mint and orange zest layered with caramelised walnuts and woody oak. As you bring up the glass for your first sip, your tastebuds are coated with a rich fruity sweetness guided with bergamot, citrus and green apple. This transforms to warming sweet ginger and cinnamon spice with flavours of salted caramel. The after-effect? A herbal burst of peat smoke making its appearance and hanging back on the palate for you to savour.

The Poem

In celebration of the launch is a poem encapsulating ARC-54 written by the award-winning written word artist Sophia Thakur. Dubbed as ‘one of the most adored poets of our time’ by Vogue and ‘the poet of our generation’ by the BBC, Thakur’s spoken word has echoed across the Glastonbury stage and off the high-ceilinged acoustics of The Royal Albert Hall. Having partnered with numerous brands previously, from Calvin Klein to Tiffany and Co, Thakur has now moved into her first whisky-based partnership with Bowmore, being tasked to create an anthem that communicates ARC-54.

“I discovered the art of whisky making recently and have been fascinated by it ever since. Although it’s a different medium to the one I work in, there are so many parallels and synergies,” says Thakur, “I often wonder if the appreciation of stillness and taking time to be immersed in the present is becoming a lost art form – especially for the next generation. This is something I have been exploring a lot in my work, so collaborating on this project truly felt like divine timing.”

The Launch

Sofia Thakur’s debut performance of her anthem for Bowmore took place at the whisky’s grand launch at The OWO. Accompanied by a live harpist, the poem was unexpectedly captivating, performed as a precursor to the entire room taking the long-awaited first sip of ARC-54, like heralding royalty before they enter the room. We all knew the feeling of the whisky before taking our first swirl, nose and taste – all from Sofia’s words. Leading up to the poetic crescendo, the event unfolded in three distinct spaces, where guests rotated between them, experiencing the previous Bowmore whiskies that stood before the arrival of ARC-54. All prior to venturing into a fern-filled forest, where smoke drifted from the ground, to be granted a tasting glass of ARC-54 for our first (and potentially only) encounter.

Find out more about Bowmore ARC-54 via bowmore.com/en-gb/whiskies/arc-54, where a price is available upon request.