Aston Martin and Bowmore Bottle 352 Years Of Combined Heritage
WORDS BY,
BRANDON SCOTT ROYE
Photo: Gabi Porter
243-year Bowmore and 109-year Aston Martin, show that luxury is so much more than an item to be bought.
It’s a life to be lived among those who have truly dedicated themselves to tasting, weighing, and refining their five senses. Some, even acquiring a sixth.
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The master blenders and designers behind this complex architectural, automotive, and whisky collaboration shared that learning each other’s century-old processes sharpened their own senses in unexpected ways. They discovered that they could discern each other’s crafts down to the last percent and articulate the sensations and memories that arise in much greater detail than humanity as a whole gives ourselves credit for.
Our bodies are the true wonder of the world. And in unique moments like this, I have the pleasure of recalibrating my own relationship with sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch through brands who understand the power in aligning their designs with that of nature, through The Golden Ratio.
Arriving at 130 William St. and styled in a dusty blue garment by Fried Rice—yes, you read that right—the lobby served as a palette cleanser for the refined frivolity to come. No more overexposed lighting, rushing cars, and dripping umbrellas. The ambiance was dim and modern with lush greenery and copious art objects to pause and recenter yourself. Gazing mindlessly into a vivid green, glass blown vase—I hear the elevator’s ding and look up to find the great Avril Graham of Harper’s BAZAAR joining our ascension to 60PH. She was a delight.
Photo: Gabi Porter
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Bowmore, Aston Martin Masters' Selection Tasting & Dinner on Thursday, March 24th, 2022
The doors subside to an ultra-modern, cozy space designed by Aston Martin. The multi-hyphenate within me rejoices. Not a single car in sight, of course, and yet their style oozes from every detail. The lighting, the hardware, the tones, the curvature of the windows overlooking a foggy twilight above the river. This is what it means to design a world, rather than products, like Ralph Lauren—owner of the legendary 1965 Aston Martin DB5, among a 70+ collection of automotives.
As you can imagine, the aroma spoke for itself.
Cocktails with candied ginger and tulip glasses filled with your choice of Bowmore’s 12 Year, 15 Year, and 18 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky danced around the room, followed by passed hors d’oeuvres. Dinging an intricately sketched glass, the hostess formally introduced the collaboration and team. As it turns out, the opulent condo we were standing in—one of just a handful in the building, and world—came with a limited edition Aston Martin, as well. Of course, they are already spoken for.
Transitioning to the dining room downstairs, we learned more about how both brands make decisions with an eye towards The Golden Ratio. Above each brown leather charger at the table was a placemat with a mathematical, shell-like graphic with the numbers 12, 15, and 18—remember those?
Each number held a short stem tulip glass, topped with a curved glass lens to prevent aeration before the tasting. And at the center was a long stem tulip glass with the number 21—the bottle blended and designed in collaboration with Aston Martin.
In the words of Ron Welsh, Bowmore’s Master Whisky Blender, and Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, “The selection bridges two distinct worlds in a powerful, inspiring way. At its heart is a mutual trust and respect for each other’s worlds and a passion to discover and learn from each other.”
Tasting notes for the mahogany-toned Bowmore Masters’ Selection with 51.8% ABV include sweet and nutty, leather and tobacco, along with herbs and florals on the nose. And the taste, “Richly elegant sherry merges with raw Islay peat, while bitter dark chocolate, black pepper, butterscotch sauce unites with vanilla and coffee beans and a fruity flair is defined by Morello cherries and a touch of papaya.
All of this accompanied by a coconut donut hole, hard chip of dark chocolate, and chocolate mousse in a graham cracker crust with a candied orange slice on top. 10/10, truly.
Photo: Gabi Porter
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Aldo Moschini and Jamie MacKenzie attend Aston Martin Masters' Selection Tasting & Dinner on Thursday, March 24th, 2022
The selection bridges two distinct worlds in a powerful, inspiring way. At its heart is a mutual trust and respect for each other’s worlds and a passion to discover and learn from each other.
Photo: Gabi Porter
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From Left To Right: Scott Avram, Aldo Moschini and Ron Welsh, attend Bowmore, Aston Martin Masters' Selection Tasting & Dinner on Thursday, March 24th, 2022