Bowmore ARC-52, Aston Martin, and Art.

Can whisky be art? I don’t think I would be alone in saying yes.

Whisky bottles and labels can range from the old fashioned and traditional to the colourful and eccentric. Many a whisky drinker will not merely have a favourite tipple, but also a story of a dram so exquisite it verged on the sublime. Similarly, recollections of whisky experienced with good company can be just as evocative as any portrait or piece of music. Conversations about good vs bad whisky are just as subjective as those surrounding good and bad art. And it’s beyond a cliche to draw parallels between a distiller’s expertise and an artist’s mastery of their craft.

With that in mind, the recent collaboration between Bowmore and Aston Martin may be the pinnacle of where art and whisky meet. That is certainly the view held by the brands themselves. Aston Martin’s chief creative director Marek Reichman boldly claims that their latest creation - the Bowmore ARC-52 - is no mere whisky decanter; it’s a sculpture. It’s a piece of art.

The ARC-52 decanter is certainly something for the eye to behold. Smooth contours and shapes create an utterly unique form designed to make the decanter appear weightless as it rests on two curved points. Even calling this a decanter feels like something of a misnomer; it’s so far removed from a typical whisky holding vessel.

And what about the whisky within? A 52 year old Bowmore that is a marriage of 50% American oak hogshead and 50% European oak butt matured spirit, delivering what master blender Ron Welsh believes is the best 50+ year Bowmore he’s tasted.

As one of Bowmore’s oldest whiskies ever released, it is a great example of Bowmore’s pioneering spirit and masterful craftsmanship, which is in turn matched by Aston Martin’s design principles that balance innovation and heritage.

While the futuristic design of the decanter would have been entirely alien to those who were filling the casks at Bowmore over 50 years ago, there’s no doubt that its presentation will spark conversations about the importance of design and - dare I say it - beauty. Meanwhile, a 52 year old whisky from any distillery is a mouthwatering prospect, let alone from a distillery that has a prestigious reputation for releasing older whiskies such as Bowmore.

Only 100 of these decanters will be available, offering those who get their hands on one a unique piece of Bowmore history. However, the question remains: is the ARC-52 art? I’ll play it safe with the ‘art is subjective’ card and let you decide.