A quick note before anything else. This week, five of my LMDW Artist Series reviews were done with industry samples provided free of charge and without any pesky strings attached; this message precedes each of those reviews. As ever, I am unsure if that led me to grade harder or easier, but I prefer ant entanglements to be upfront. For more, check out the ethics statement we use on Maltrunners.com.

Whisky: Bowmore 21 Year (2001), LMDW Artist #13 Cask 184

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 56.2%

Cask: Refill Bourbon

Age: 21 Years (Distilled 2001, Bottled 2023)

Nose: Soft mineral smoke, herbal, maritime, caramelized sugars, orange, burning pitch, grass, slightly medicinal.

Palate: Medium-bodied, coastal with beach grass and brine, grilled tropical fruit, wispy smoke, driftwood, hints of chocolate and an industrial cannery.

Finish: Medium to long with driftwood, brine, tropical fruit, and a kiss of woody pepper.

Score: 8 (87)

Mental Image: Seaside Guava Cannery

Narrative & Notes: Soft mineral smoke and beachside bonfires drifted on a saline breeze.  Flambéed orange and caramel cakes with a touch of Gran Marnier were a delightful accompaniment to more acrid burning pitch, grass, and medicinal herbs. Medium-bodied with a beautiful transition from coastal tar sands and beach grass to charcoal grilled tropical fruits and wispy smoke. Charred driftwood and dark chocolate lingered in the background with industrial notions of a fruit canning operation in the tropics.  The finish was medium to long with driftwood, brine, tropical fruits, and a kiss of pepper.

Fantastic— this had everything I want from a twenty something Bowmore: a dirty industrial character alongside soft brine and sweet grilled tropical fruits. The smoke and acrid elements were stronger here than typical on Bowmore, but a few drops of water quieted them down and brought forward more guava and nectarines with a touch of creamy vanilla.

Overall, just a wonderful example of Bowmore in the early 2000s when more tropical fruits began reappearing in the malt. I wish the palate were a bit richer and finish fuller, but there was much to love.