If you like luxury cars and Scotch whisky, Aston Martin and Islay’s Bowmore Distillery is here for you. The car manufacturer and the iconic Islay whisky distillery collaborated to launch a new 50,000 euro ($66,000) bottle of whisky, the sixth and final edition of Black Bowmore, fully titled Black Bowmore DB5 1964. This bottle is an Aston Martin birthday party. iconic DB5 car, which was noticed through James Bond when it made the first impression on Goldfinger in 1964, the same year the whisky was first deposited in Bowmore’s warehouse for maturation. With only 25 bottles available, it will be available by the end of this year. If you want, you’ll have to run fast to bring this beloved whiskey to the avid collectors.
There’s an explanation for why. If you mention “Black Bowmore” to a whiskey picker (or someone familiar and excited about the rare bottles of Scotch whisky), the reaction you’ll get will never be indifference. This is a series of whiskies that represents not only the immediate increase in the costs of high-end bottles for more than 20 years, but also a case that examines how brands have responded to customer calls over time, creating a new category of premium ultra-whiskies. only for the richest whisky lovers and pickers, as the costs of the bottled whiskey to collect have begun to skyrocket at auction sites.
Popular for the rich flavors of the highest quality sherry barrels, Black Bowmore was first presented as a 29-year limited edition whisky in 1993 for a then-expensive label of 80 euros ($110). The call comes from the dark color of the whiskey itself. He now has a gem in many serious whisky collections, with costs that lately approach $20,000, consistent with the bottle.
Since then, 4 other editions have been published. The second and third editions of Black Bowmore are almost as popular as the first (they have a tendency to sell for between $8,000 and $15,000 on auction sites) and were published with similar charges in 1994 and 1995 respectively. With the release of the fourth edition in 2007, things began to change. At this point, whiskies were the most in demand, the first whisky auction sites began to appear and this 42-year-old bottle charged 2400 euros ($3,200).
When I had the chance to see the fifth edition in 2016, the liquid was bottled at $50 and was priced at $600 with only 159 bottles available. At the time I was told there would be no more Black Bowmore releases either. Following the announcement of Bowmore’s collaboration with Aston Martin last year for paintings on new traffic jams and experiments, it turns out that the distillery has to replace the course.
For this incredibly infrequent “DB5” edition, there are some clues with the data provided in the bottle that can excite collectors. Although this liquid was originally distilled in 1964 (like all past editions), it is 31 years old, more than 50 as the 5th edition, meaning that the age is similar to the first 3 iconic editions. In addition, the whisky comes from a barrel of Williams and Humbert Walnut Brown, which contained sweet sherry smelly in a past life. It is the same type of barrel that is rumored to have provided the liquid for this first edition of Black Bowmore.
So, in this case, Bowmore’s unwavering and wealthy fans are presented with a tempting but expensive possibility to see anything that, in theory, deserves to have a profile similar to the original 3 editions. Given the existing market, it’s no wonder the value is so high.
So, what does it taste like? I was lucky enough to get a distillery pattern and check it out.
The nose is deep, resinous and incredibly velvety. Leather, liquorice and roasted coffee add intensity to prunes, orange jam and raspberries, accompanied by a soft detail of Vaporub de Vic and eucalyptus that raises a safe freshness. Tannins and oak are provided but deflected to allow everything else to spread perfectly.
To taste, oak is more physically powerful but does not overwhelm here. It is also very fruity, with peaches, mangoes and pineapples taking over. Around the fruit there is an addition of spices and herbs, adding nutmeg, cinnamon, coriander and mint. The texture is oily, resinous and soft. Although Bowmore is a peat whiskey, typical peat notes have a slight compatibility here. The finish is very woody, with a bitterness close to dark chocolate or black coffee. It’s a world-class whiskey, but nothing less would give the price.
Is it worth $66,000? Probably, if those 25 bottles locate satisfied buyers (which is likely). What’s transparent is that by partnering with Aston Martin, Bowmore is taking the next step by helping to make the amazing Scotch whisky more than just a luxury product to buy, but a lifestyle selection that’s a must for those who can.
I am a London-based whisky and co-founder of The Rhythm and Booze Project, a duo that fuses live music and whiskey through concerts, tastings and multimedia. I ‘m
I am a London-based whisky and co-founder of The Rhythm and Booze Project, a duo that fuses live music and whiskey through concerts, tastings and multimedia. I am also a judge at the World Whisky Awards and World Cognac Awards. Some of my projects beyond come with blues and whiskey tasting opportunities for the Caol Ila distillery in Islay, and the structure of the world’s first bass drum barrel of a barrel of total Scotch whisky with a barrel of Lagavulin. My love story with the water of life began when, as a 19-year-old student at the University of St. Andrews, I first tasted a gloriously murky whiskey. Since then, I worked on award-winning independent bottler Robert Graham before writing my master’s thesis on sustainable whisky distillation. Follow me on @schriebergfr or www.therhythmandboozeproject.com.