I need a drink !!

A different world …. For some folk the ‘world wide trade war’ won’t bother them. Trade tariffs are for ordinary folks to deal with. Here in Scotland we may wince at the price of a 20 quid bottle of blended whisky or 50 quid for a decent bottle of single malt, but there are folk who are happy to pay those prices. In fact some nutters will pay 500 quid - and more - for a deluxe or rare malt. And then there are the super-nutters.

Take the latest ‘collaboration’ between Bowmore on Islay and Aston Martin. Their latest joint effort is a single malt called ‘Bowmore ARC-54’. Distilled in 1968 and matured in a 2nd Fill European Oak Sherry Butt and 3rd Fill American Oak Hogshead, this exalted dram is now being offered for sale, but not just in any bottle.

Apparently – “ Each handblown decanter takes inspiration from the F1-inspired aerodynamic exterior of the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar, including the full-length venturi tunnels that contribute to in the region of 1,100 kg of downforce, and the natural fluid forms of the terroir (a French word) of Islay. Emanating from the design direction and principles of an Aston Martin, Bowmore ARC-54 is sculpted with precision, creating a striking sense of flow in its lines and styling.  The shape is defined by these fluid aerodynamics and showcase the shared philosophy through the diffuser inspired glass sculpture to enhance the flowing reflections of the whisky within.

And there’s more of that arty guff in the Press Release, much more, just to try and justify the exorbitant price. When you get right down to it, whisky is a distillation of barley and water followed by a period of maturation (storage!) and then bottling and labelled. The rest is fable and folklore.

All we really want is a tasty nip that slides down the throat and warms the heart without stinging the wallet. And whilst I’d love to taste this ‘super elixir’ that won’t happen any time soon.

Apparently a case will cost you at least £56,000, and probably more, while some examples of the product have already reached well in excess of six figures.

Just one thing before you rush out to buy a case for family and friends – there is only ONE 70cl bottle/decanter inside each case!