One of the longest running luxury-car and high-end whisky collaboration series is coming to a close. Bowmore and Aston Martin 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.
Bowmore and Aston Martin released their first collab, Black Bowmore DB5 1964, in 2020. This was an extremely limited-edition bottling: With just 25 decanters available at £50,000 apiece, the 1964 vintage single malt came in a special case designed to evoke the classic DB5, which came out 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. That last whisky, a 52-year-old single malt aged in a sherry cask and ex-bourbon hogshead, was housed in a futuristic glass decanter with a large metal top; it was originally listed at $75,000, but the Mokume Edition sold for almost $300,000 just about a year ago at auction.
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.
Ron Welsh, Bowmore‘s master blender, is the man who created this new whisky. “This fourth and final edition of Masters’ Selection defines the journey of this collaboration to date with absolute perfection,” he said 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.”
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.
