A futuristic design for Bowmore x Aston Martin ARC-52 whisky
A futuristic design for Bowmore x Aston Martin ARC-52 whisky
Article by Katie Nichol published in Luxe Packaging Insight on 07/05/2022.
Scottish distillery Bowmore has unveiled a 52-year-old single malt whisky. Made in collaboration with luxury carmaker Aston Martin, the Bowmore ARC-52 "harnesses heritage and innovation" in its futuristic carafe.
Beam Suntory-owned distillery Bowmore has once again partnered with Aston Martin to bring to life a striking decanter housing one of the oldest whiskies to be released from the Bowmore portfolio. The hand-blown decanter (Waltersperger), which is made in cosmetic-grade flint glass, balances on two points, making it seem almost suspended in mid-air.
The complex design was the fruit of a collaboration between Bowmore and Aston Martin’s auto engineers. The organic curved form required a series of prototypes in order for the final decanter to be realized, which was achieved through asymmetrical glass blow and multiple mold parts. For the lettering on the facing, Waltersperger applied sandblast etching.
“We set out to produce something that hasn’t been seen before, and I believe we have created a true piece of art. Taking balance as the most important factor, as we do in designing Aston Martin cars, we’ve harnessed heritage and innovation in ARC–52 execution,” Marek Reichman, Chief Creative Officer at Aston Martin, said in a statement.
The decanter is topped with a nickel-plated aluminum lid featuring a patented magnetic locking system, which is unlocked with a bespoke magnetic key. The lid is milled on a 5-axis CNC machine and decorated with a machine-routed Aston Martin logo and individual numbering.
Handmade by artisans in Florence, the deep blue coffret also serves as a presentation case once the decanter is removed. Sheathed in calfskin, the surface is embossed with a wave pattern, a nod to the distillery’s coastal home in Scotland. The bottle is protected by a removable chamois fitment that can double up as an interlocking platform when placed at the top of the presentation case.
The Bowmore ARC-52 began maturing in European Oak Sherry Butt and ex-Bourbon American Oak Hogshead barrels in 1968. Just 100 decanters will be available for purchase from late summer 2022, priced at $125,000 for 750ml.