A bottle of the one-of-a-kind “Mokume Edition” 52-year-old single malt Scotch whiskey just sold for $279,800.
The valuable bottle of whiskey was made in by the Scottish company Bowmore Distillery and Aston Martin, the luxury car manufacturer.
Tomorrow, two worlds unite with the auction of ARC-52 Mokume Edition at @Sothebys.
All proceeds directed to the The Bowmore Legacy – a dedicated fund to support vital initiatives in Islay’s distilling industry.@astonmartin #Bowmore #BowmorexAstonMartin #BowmoreARCMokume pic.twitter.com/GOTUkiM6C5
— Bowmore Whiskey (@bowmore) May 25, 2023
The whiskey was auctioned last week by Sotheby’s exceeding its estimate. The auction house expected it to sell for between £140,000 and £220,000. Ultimately, the anonymous buyer decided to pay 279,800 (£225,000).
Bowmore Arc-52 is one of a kind, both in design and in its aging process, first in an American Hogshead oak barrel and finally in a European oak barrel.
As for the design, Aston Martin bottled the content in a special decanter where the upper part is made of carbon fiber similar to natural granite or rock, inspired by the black rocks of the bay of Loch Indaal.
On the tasting notes, tropical fruits and caramel are perceived in the nose to give rise to the “crescendo with herbal and medicinal notes” to finally combine tobacco flavor and a “subtle peat ash”.
Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman said in a press release about the decanter design “sometimes nature can be the best of all designers”.
Reichman noted that as creators of custom objects, proportion and form “along with careful selection of colors and materials are incredibly important to us.” abounded.
Proceeds from the auction will be donated to a program called The Bowmore Legacy that supports youth in the Bowmore City community, provides job training and affordable housing.
The winner of the auction will be able to visit the distillery and ride in the Aston Martin DBX Bowmore Edition car.
Bowmore Master Blender Ron Welsh said this unique Bowmore Arc-52 creation fulfills the ambition of giving back to its hometown “something really special and desirable”.
Sotheby’s director of whiskey and spirits, North America and EMEA, Jonny Fowle, noted in a press release that “these two heritage British brands have produced something that is visually spectacular to house a totally unique liquid time capsule.”
He said that “today’s most dedicated collectors seek not only to collect legendary bottles, but especially those that are unique. The price reached by the Mokume is proof of this”.
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