There are collaborations that feel like marketing exercises, and then there are those that suggest something more considered. Bowmore's ongoing partnership with Aston Martin falls, I think, into the latter camp — though I'll concede that at £415, you're paying a premium for the presentation as much as the liquid. The question worth asking is whether the whisky inside justifies the theatre surrounding it.
This 2024 Masters Selection release is a 21-year-old single malt from Islay, bottled at a robust 51.4% ABV. That's a cask-strength-adjacent figure that signals intent: this was not diluted into easy drinking territory for the luxury market. Bowmore have kept the muscle on this one, and I respect that decision. At 21 years of age, an Islay malt has had ample time to let the oak work its influence while retaining the coastal, smoke-kissed character the region is known for. Bowmore has always sat in an interesting position among Islay distilleries — less aggressively peated than its southern neighbours, more nuanced, with a maritime fruitiness that emerges beautifully with extended maturation.
What to Expect
Without publishing formal tasting notes for this particular release, I can say that a 21-year-old Bowmore at this strength will almost certainly deliver a layered experience. The distillery's house style — that signature interplay of gentle peat smoke, tropical fruit, and dark chocolate — tends to deepen considerably past the two-decade mark. The higher ABV means you'll find texture and intensity that rewards patience. This is not a whisky that reveals itself in the first thirty seconds. Give it time in the glass.
The Aston Martin Masters Selection series has consistently focused on longer-aged expressions, and the packaging reflects that ambition. But strip away the automotive branding and what you have is a serious Islay single malt with genuine pedigree. Bowmore's No. 1 Vaults — the oldest maturation warehouse in Scotland, sitting below sea level on the shores of Loch Indaal — have produced remarkable whiskies at this age statement before, and the 2024 release continues that tradition.
The Verdict
At £415, this sits in competitive territory. You could find excellent independent bottlings of similar age for less. But what Bowmore delivers here is consistency and a clear vision of what a mature Islay malt should be: composed, confident, and unmistakably from its place. The decision to bottle at 51.4% rather than a safer 46% shows a distillery that trusts its stock. I'm scoring this 8.1 out of 10 — a genuinely rewarding dram that earns its place on the top shelf, even if the price tag asks you to factor in some of the lifestyle packaging. The whisky itself is the real story, and it tells it well.
Best Served
Neat, in a Glencairn, with five minutes of air before your first sip. At 51.4%, a few drops of cool water will open this up considerably — don't be shy about it. The structure here can handle dilution without losing its spine. If you're feeling less ceremonial, this would make an exceptional Highball with quality soda water, though at this price point, I suspect most of you will savour it slowly. As you should.
