Fitness
Bowmore and Aston Martin ARC-52 Is a $75K Masterpiece
If you’re gonna drop $75,000 on a bottle of whiskey, the liquid inside better be sublime. And the bottle itself? It should elevate the experience. It should possess craftsmanship that turns it into a conversation piece and a collector’s item you can proudly display on a shelf at your wet bar or bar cart. This unicorn expression we’re referring to is called ARC-52, a collab between Bowmore and Aston-Martin, which comes in a decanter that looks akin to a crystal spaceship.
The backstory
Bowmore, a scotch distillery located on the island of Islay which is known for its peated whiskey, is no stranger to the concept of well-aged, extremely expensive single malts. But this new collaboration with luxury automaker Aston Martin, part of a long-running partnership, is pretty stunning in terms of both design and flavor.
ARC-52 is a 52-year-old single malt whisky. It was distilled in 1968, the same year humans first orbited the moon. (That historical context is just a fun fact; it doesn’t have much significance in the whiskey world, but it does lend itself nicely to storytelling.)
There are just 100 bottles available of ARC-52, one of the oldest releases from Bowmore so far, and it clocks in at 42.3% ABV. The whisky is a marriage of equal proportions: half the whisky is aged in American oak ex-bourbon hogshead and half is aged in a European oak Oloroso sherry butt.
I was lucky enough to try a sample at a recent event at The Glass House in New Canaan, CT.
Tasting notes
Now, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: old whisky doesn’t mean good whisky. On the contrary, despite the exorbitant price it commands, sometimes decades in a barrel can alter the character of whisky until it might as well be cognac or rum for all you know. But this half-century-old dram from Bowmore is a tasty liquid relic.
It’s full of tropical fruit, as is often the case with scotch this old, but that’s not all there is to this tipple. The nose leads off with green apple, pineapple, and lots of pear. That last note is one I normally associate with whisky from Glenfiddich, but it’s evident here as well. The palate opens up with mango, cinnamon, and raspberry jam followed by a bit of tannic spice and some cranberry and vanilla that fades out on the finish.
This is definitely not an everyday sipper, but at $75K a pop it’s not really meant to be.
A word on design
The design of the bottle is striking, if rather unconventional, and is supposed to represent the aesthetic defined by Aston Martin’s luxury cars. The hand-blown glass decanter rests on two points in sort of a rounded triangle shape.
There’s a metal cover on top that you need a magnetic key to open, and once this is off you can pour the whisky—although it does seem to be a bit unwieldy in that regard, or at least I’d be nervous about spilling it.
“This whisky is the zenith of our partnership,” said Cathal Loughnane, Aston Martin Head of Global Partnerships, at the recent media unveiling. “This 52-year-old whisky is exceptional, and it was our challenge to create a vessel as exceptional as the liquid. We really wanted to innovate, push the limits of what a bottle is. We wanted to create something surprising and magical, so we spent years developing the magnetic system. We wanted it to be more than just a bottle, but a sculpture that holds the whisky in the perfect state.”
The truth is that no whisky is perfect, despite the hype, price, and extraordinary vessel it might come in. This is a whiskey specifically designed for high-roller collectors, and that’s who’s going to purchase it—and, let’s be honest, probably never actually drink it.
But if you find yourself with some cash burning a hole in your pocket and the time to hunt down one of these bottles, go ahead and pop it open. Or buy two—one to drink and one for your collection.
ARC-52 launches this month to the New York City and Los Angeles markets.
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The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top.
Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop
once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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