The End of an Era: Bowmore and Aston Martin Unveil Their Final Whisky Collaboration
The longest running luxury-car and high-end whisky collaboration series is coming to a close. Bowmore and Aston Martin have just announced the details of the fourth and final Masters’ Selection single malt Scotch whisky. But, while this line is ending, the partnership will continue for years to come.
Aston Martin DB5, the classic car that inspired the whisky collaboration
The partnership between Bowmore and Aston Martin began in 2020 with the release of Black Bowmore DB5 1964, an extremely limited-edition bottling of 25 decanters priced at £50,000 each. The 1964 vintage single malt came in a special case designed to evoke the classic DB5, which was released a year before the whisky was distilled. Since then, there have been several other collaborative releases between the two brands, including three previous Masters’ Selection whiskies, some global travel retail exclusives, and the striking ARC-52.
ARC-52, a 52-year-old single malt aged in a sherry cask and ex-bourbon hogshead
The latest, last, and fourth Masters’ Selection release combines components of the previous three spirits, according to the brand. It’s a 21-year-old single malt aged in American oak tawny port casks and Oloroso sherry butts. According to the official tasting notes, you can expect nutty sweetness on the nose, followed by honey, salted toffee, orange zest, thyme, and milk chocolate on the palate, with light peat smoke notes on the finish.
“This fourth and final edition of Masters’ Selection defines the journey of this collaboration to date with absolute perfection,” said Ron Welsh, Bowmore’s master blender, in a statement. “Uniting the spirit of both Bowmore and Aston Martin has been an honor and a privilege for everyone involved and I am confident this shows in the quality of what we have created together. We look forward to continuing to explore and stretch the possibilities of this incredible partnership for many more years to come.”
Ron Welsh, the master blender behind the final Masters’ Selection release
What that means exactly is unclear at this point, but whether it’s a luxury offering like ARC-52, a new series of Aston Martin-themed single malts, or some special release that incorporates car parts into the packaging, it looks like there will be more to come. Bowmore Masters’ Selection Edition 4 will be available in the U.S. starting next month with an SRP of £425 ($537), so check specialty retailers and websites then. In the meantime, you can find other Bowmore expressions, including a previous Masters’ Selection release, available at ReserveBar.
The final Masters’ Selection release, a 21-year-old single malt aged in American oak tawny port casks and Oloroso sherry butts
