Sotheby’s to Offer Bowmore Arc-54: The Iridos Edition at Auction
Sotheby’s has announced that it will present at auction Bowmore ARC-54: The Iridos Edition, a 54 year old single malt presented in a one-off decanter designed by Aston Martin.
Crafted by Calum Fraser, Chief Blender, Bowmore Arc-54: The Iridos Edition was drawn from a 1967 Oloroso Sherry seasoned European oak butt, a 1968 refill Sherry butt, and a 1968 American oak ex-bourbon hogshead, and is bottled at 42.3% ABV.
Official tasting notes for Bowmore Arc-54: The Iridos Edition follow:
BREATHE IN: Luscious, sweet, rich and complex. Polished mahogany intertwined with tropical fruit notes of soft peach, guava, desiccated coconut and gently charred ripe pineapple. The uplifting tropical fruit notes are further elevated with hints of citric orange zest are balanced harmoniously with indulgent rich fruit notes of honeyed figs, dates and moist sultanas in addition to chocolate orange with hints of sweet cinnamon together with herbal and minty notes of menthol.
TASTE: An abundance of tropical and citrus fruits layered with hints of toasted almonds and delicate Islay peat smoke. Lemon meringue, mandarin oranges, peaches in syrup and mango captivate the palate, and lead to rich notes of toasted oak, cocoa powder and creamy fudge.
SAVOUR: Long, smooth tropical fruits notes, notably passion fruit with sensations of sweet spice and gentle peat in the background.
Bowmore ARC-54: Iridos Edition is presented in a handblown decanter with a unique shape that takes inspiration from the F1-inspired aerodynamic exterior of the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar. The titanium top of the decanter has been created using the same process applied to the Aston Martin Valkyrie’s exhaust system. Milled from a single billet of titanium, it was then subjected to extreme changes in temperature, both hot and cold, to create a unique iridescent bluing patternation on the metal.
Sotheby’s online auction featuring Bowmore ARC-54: The Iridos Edition will open for bidding from May 15-29. It has an estimated hammer price of £140,000-£220,000 ($180,000-$300,000). Proceeds from the auction will benefit the communities which support Suntory Global Spirits’ distilleries in Scotland.
Source: Sotheby’s.