Review: Bowmore x Aston Martin 15 Years Old
Review: Bowmore x Aston Martin 15 Years Old
Bowmore’s partnership with Aston Martin continues apace with the latest release of an insane 54-year-old single malt dubbed ARC-54 that carries a similarly insane price tag of $80,000 a bottle. Chances aren’t good that we’ll get a taste of that one to share with you. Thankfully, Bowmore still offers a handful of impressive values, perhaps none better than the Designed by Aston Martin trilogy launched in 2021 and available exclusively in travel retail. We’ve covered the 10-year-old and 18-year-old expressions already, and today we’re looking at the final offering in the lineup, a 15-year-old single malt aged in first-fill bourbon casks and hogsheads.
As with the other x Aston Martin releases, this bottling is inspired by its own Aston Martin car model. In this case, that inspiration is the 1958 DB4, considered a design milestone for the famous luxury carmaker as it was the first Aston Martin to feature an Italian-inspired ‘superleggera’ chassis. I have to admit, the car on the packaging is stunning, but what about the single malt inside?
Bowmore x Aston Martin 15 Years Old Review
It is plenty stunning in its own right. The nose is bright and expressive with eager notes of golden raisin, honeycomb, lemon peel, and soft, creamy pipe smoke. As it opens, salty, sultry peat builds steadily but never overpowers the higher-toned sweetness, even adding a bit of candied orange peel and fresh grapefruit to the mix.
The palate is light, almost refreshing, but still round with honeyed notes of lemon cordial and orange cake that turn to peach syrup and vanilla custard on the midpalate. A gentle, even warmth underpins it all, simmering slowly into a generous finish of beach bonfire, ginger, and lemon zest. Golden and elegant, just like the label says. Another winner in a tremendous trio from Bowmore. Frequent flyers, take note.
86 proof.
A- / $98 (1 liter)
Bowmore x Aston Martin 15 Years Old
USD98
