The Bowmore 21 Years Aston Martin Masters’ Selection is all about the golden ratio, which I’ll get into. But the most important is that 61.8% of this premium Scotch whisky has matured for at least 21 years in first-fill PX and Oloroso sherry casks. The remaining parts includes some Bowmore matured for over 35 years. Consider my interest piqued.
According to Marek Reichman, the chief creative officer of Aston Martin, his company uses golden ratio concept for the design in every Aston Martin. It is a mathematical ratio (further explained here) found in nature that creates aesthetically pleasing compositions. Reichman and Bowmore master blender Ron Welsh used the ratio to come up with a cask recipe for the Bowmore 21 Years Aston Martin Masters’ Selection.
Each part of the Bowmore 21 Years Aston Martin Masters’ Selection is in ratio to the other part of the liquid. In total there are six parts and Welsh explained he had free reign to use Bowmore stock and ages. About the 35 and 36 year old whisky that is part of the composition, he says it was only used in small portions.
Here’s what Welsh had to say in a prepared statement. “For the first time with this whisky, we have adopted the Golden Ratio to inspire each of the elements bringing their own unique flavours and selecting the optimal casks to forge the desired character, taking inspiration from Marek and his team. What seems totally contrasting is, in fact, perfectly balanced and proportionate. Working with Marek has given me a new lens from which to explore whisky making. This whisky serves as a celebration of our unified knowledge and experience; our shared passions, values and ideas.”
While it’s fair to question why a car manufacturer and whisky producer have teamed up (you’ll never be able to enjoy their products together), the two luxury brands also weirdly make sense together. The Bowmore 21 Years Aston Martin Masters’ Selection is not the first time the two companies collaborated. In 2020 they released the Black Bowmore DB5 1964 with an eye-watering price tag of £50,000. Considering the succes of the partnership, I doubt it will be the last we hear from them.
Finally, the original retail price for the Bowmore 21 Years Aston Martin Masters’ Selection sits comfortably at around 300 euro. That’s a lot of money, but actually seems pretty fair considering what you nowadays have to pay for similarly aged independently bottled Bowmore.
Bowmore 21 Years Aston Martin Masters’ Selection (51.8%, OB, 2021)
Nose: Clear-cut Bowmore, which means tropical notes and gentle peat. Walnuts and hazelnuts with tinned pineapple, subtle bonfire smoke and mango. There are touches of honey, cigar boxes and sage as well.
Taste: Great creamy texture with plenty of brine, a friendly peatiness and some black pepper. There are smoked barley husks and dark chocolate, as well as coffee beans and soft notes of jammy fruits followed by bitter grapefruit.
Finish: Lingering spices, honey and coastal peat. Long.
