I was hired by Bowmore’s PR agency Lab2 as the official photographer for one of the most exclusive whiskies in the world, the 1968 Bowmore x Aston Martin ARC-54.
With a price tag of over €81,000 (!!) per bottle, this single malt Scotch draws clear inspiration from the world of high-end sports cars. And rightly so — Bowmore partnered with none other than the iconic automotive brand Aston Martin for this exceptional release.
The design of the hand-blown decanter is a work of art, created by Aston Martin’s own design team. Its shape echoes the futuristic aerodynamics of the Valkyrie, the brand’s flagship hypercar. The back of the bottle is especially striking, mimicking the form of the car’s venturi tunnels, which generate over 1,100 kg of downforce to keep it glued to the track. A fun detail: to open the bottle, you need a special key that looks just like the ignition key of a luxury sports car.
Aston Martin didn’t just help shape the bottle — they also contributed to the whisky itself. The ARC-54 is a blend of two exceptional casks, each matured for 54 years: one European oak (ex-sherry) and one American oak (ex-bourbon). The blend was carefully composed according to the Golden Ratio — 61.8% European oak, 38.2% American — and then underwent an additional 15-month marrying period.
The result? A whisky of stunning complexity and depth. Incredibly smooth, bursting with vibrant notes of mango and stone fruit, and balanced by a delicate, lingering whisper of peat smoke. Without a doubt, one of the finest whiskies I’ve ever tasted.
Only 130 bottles of Bowmore ARC-54 were produced worldwide, with just one bottle allocated for sale in Belgium. Throughout the month of June, it will be on display at Hotel Amigo, part of the Rocco Forte collection, in Brussels.
Curious to read more about this whisky and my tasting experience?
You can find a full article about the whisky here.
