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INTRODUCING BOWMORE ARC-54
Welcome to a defining moment for Bowmore. Today, we announce the release of our ultimate creation – Bowmore ARC-54.
By combining a remarkably rare single malt distilled in November 1968 with a pioneering decanter, Bowmore ARC-54 encapsulates past, present and future. Its ground-breaking design draws on a legacy built by generations of distillers, and the enthralling promise of a future yet to be crafted.
This is the destination of a journey that’s taken more than half a century. It’s a key milestone in our history as a distillery, and, most importantly, an opportunity to become immersed in a moment of intense escapism. The spirit’s subtle, distinct flavours and aromas harmonise beautifully to stimulate every sense and nourish the soul.
A moment of pure flow
Bowmore ARC-54 combines a captivating spirit with an unprecedented design, uniting into a moment of pure flow. Its individually handcrafted glass decanter is a wonder of artisanal skill, evoking in glass the movement of air. Its expressive lines balance this impression of fluid motion with a sense of stillness and calm.
Bowmore ARC-54 embodies a multidimensional character that captivates the senses and sparks intrigue from the very first moment. On the eye, it allures with hues of spun gold, before offering aromas of sweet vanilla, soft butterscotch and buttery shortbread. These give way to reveal tropical mango and peach – a hallmark of 1960s Bowmore distilling – before the aromas unfurl further, giving rise to subtle hints of orange zest, toasted oak, candied walnuts and finely chopped eucalyptus mint.
And then, the taste. Close your eyes, pause, and let beauty pour in as the nuances of flavour create a moment of total captivation. Rich fruity sweetness provides a depth of expressive character, with green apple, and delicate tones of bergamot orange and lime juice giving an impeccable first impression on the palate. Salted caramel harmonises with floral notes as warming spices of ginger and sweet cinnamon lead to a gentle whisper of Islay peat smoke.
Aged like no other
At Bowmore, nothing is left to chance. Through our intentional process we skilfully build flavour at every step. And yet, intention does not mean absolute control; this is no mere mechanical process. With a whisky of Bowmore ARC-54’s vintage, we are always working with the natural world and its mysteries that remain tantalisingly out of reach.
Passing years infuse the whisky, deepening its essence in a way that no human hand can ever touch. As time moves, it is captured, fleetingly, in a note of bergamot orange, or the softest hint of Islay peat smoke. Bowmore ARC-54 is not only a single malt; it’s 54 years in a single moment – and an expression of the arc of time.
Achieving this effect was the result of finely tuned artistry, gently refined over centuries in an everlasting journey. It was also the result of the Atlantic ocean’s lapping waves that rise up to meet the outer wall of our historic No1 Vaults, where casks are immersed in the unique atmosphere of our island home.
With more than fifty years in exceptional casks that stand before thousands of miles of clear Atlantic ocean, protected by the heavy stone walls of No1 Vaults, Bowmore ARC-54 captures a delicate alchemy of tasting notes and aromas that stand as a testament to the dedication and passion of generations of Bowmore distillers.
A golden era of Bowmore
To trace the story of Bowmore ARC-54, we need to look back to the 1960s – and a golden era of distilling at Bowmore. It’s a story that begins at low tide.
Single malt was anything but the household name it is today, but our then-owner, Stanley P. Morrison, was a shrewd business mind. He modernised our distillery, moving ahead of the curve by increasing the number of our stills to four and opening a visitor centre, which back then was one of the first in Scotland.
Demand increased, then boomed – and soon enough, we’d transformed ourselves into a modern operation capable of meeting the desires of a new audience who appreciated the quality of a fine Bowmore single malt.
A key part of this story is the move from using coal fires to a steam boiler in 1964. The only problem? The boiler weighed 18-tonnes. The Army and Royal Navy joined forces to make the unprecedented manoeuvre of transporting the back-breakingly heavy equipment ashore, but they were no match for the low tide, just as our Distillery manager had warned, thinking it would be better to wait out the week.
To distil a long story, the boat was eventually winched closer to shore, and the boiler transported onto Islay. It went on to herald the release of an island classic, the 1964 Black Bowmore, which helped to define the art of luxury whisky and is beloved by connoisseurs to this day. With Black Bowmore has come a well-deserved reputation for the 1960s as a very special era – and it’s this era that’s allowed us to bring you this incredibly special 1968 vintage, Bowmore ARC-54.
Our inspired partnership with Aston Martin
The ingenuity of Bowmore ARC-54’s design is an expression of our connection with Aston Martin, whose mastery over craft is embodied in its AM Valkyrie. The smooth, deliberate lines of the Valkyrie’s diffuser are designed in concert with the flow of air, allowing it to move around and through. This sense of flow is also evoked in the lyrical lines of the Bowmore ARC-54’s beautiful decanter.
The glass decanter stands as a tribute to the legacies of both Bowmore and Aston Martin – a partnership rooted in heritage and an unwavering commitment to design excellence.
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