Right from the start of the tasting, this truly outstanding bottling unmistakably echoes the no-less-remarkable Bowmore 2001 bottlings in La Maison du Whisky's Artist ranges 7 and 8. Its additional years spent in cask have in no way eroded the freshness, smoothness and firmness of its predecessors—indeed, quite the contrary. Evoking an oily, herbaceous and medicinal peat, the aroma palette is also beautifully exotic. As though driven by a sea breeze, the finish draws up on the eastern shore of Loch Indaal on the Isle of Islay. A limited edition of 665 bottles.