Aston Martin and Bowmore bottle £50,000 whisky

Islay Scotch brand Bowmore and luxury car maker Aston Martin have created a £50,000 (US$66,000) whisky together, called Black Bowmore DB5 1964.

Bowmore and Aston Martin announced a partnership in 2019 to create exclusive bottlings and experiences. Black Bowmore DB5 1964 is the first release as part of this collaboration. The 31-year-old whisky, which aged in a walnut brown oloroso Sherry butt, is said to be a celebration of “a definitive moment in history" for both Bowmore and Aston Martin. For Bowmore, 1964 was the year a new boiler was installed, which saw the distillery enter the “modern age of distilling” as coal fires were replaced with steam as a means of heating the stills. It was the first distillation from this new boiler that produced the spirit to make Black Bowmore, which was first distilled on 5 November 1964. David Turner, distillery manager at Bowmore, said: “1964 represents a significant date in the modern history of the distillery. Not only a key moment in how we distilled our spirit, but perhaps even more significant as this very spirit went on to create Black Bowmore. “These defining moments are fundamental to the history of Bowmore. This collaboration with Aston Martin has allowed us to once again showcase this iconic single malt in the most incredible way.” The year was also important for Aston Martin. Following the release of its DB5 model in 1963, the sports car made its on-screen debut as the vehicle of choice for James Bond in the 1964 film Goldfinger. Marek Reichman, executive vice president and chief creative officer of Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “This exciting new association with Bowmore gives us the perfect opportunity to celebrate a vital part of our star-studded history by combining the unrivalled appeal of the iconic DB5 with the cultured flavours of this world-renowned single malt.” Just 27 bottles of Black Bowmore DB5 1964 have been created, and 25 of these will be offered for sale. Bottled at 49.6% ABV, the whisky is described as having “intense flavours of mango, passion fruit and acacia honey interwoven with a powerful combination of coffee and tobacco smoke”. The Black Bowmore DB5 bottle has been handcrafted by Glasstorm, a contemporary glass studio in Scotland. The bottles are presented in a handmade presentation box, which was inspired by the distillery’s coastal home. Black Bowmore DB5 1964 will be available from late autumn 2020.