Nose
Sweet vanilla and cotton candy. Peat lovers might be disappointed, because this is certainly not an in-your-face smoke bomb. Shoe polish, chalk, sal ammoniac, wood glue, white grapes, green apples. Nicely intertwined. Wow, I might actually love this!
Taste
The peat is, as I suspected, more noticeable. Oily, smoky, black pepper, some oak shavings, but also sweet marzipan, marshmallow and bitter oranges.
Finish
Dry, smoky and ashy. Long.
Comments
The nose is absolutely gorgeous, the palate can't quite keep up, but is still really good. Very well-rounded.
BOW (88)
Tasting notes by bruichladdich:
COLOUR
AUTUMN SUN ON COPPER STILLS
NOSE
THE OCTOMORE DNA IS EVIDENT AS SOON AS THE CORK IS POPPED. THE SMOKE IS CLOSELY INTERTWINED WITH THE RICH AND FRUITY TOASTED OAK OF THE GRENACHE CASKS. WISPS OF SMOKY IODINE, LEATHER, POLISH, NUTELLA, GINGER SYRUP, WALNUTS AND ORANGE PEEL COMPETE FOR YOUR ATTENTION BEFORE ALLOWING THE FRUIT TO COME INTO ITS OWN. LEMON AND GREEN APPLES ARE HELD TOGETHER IN THE GRIP OF THE TYPICAL OCTOMORE SMOKY, SALTY ROPE, MARINE CHARACTER
PALATE
THE HEAT IS TEMPERED BY THE WONDERFUL TEXTURE IN THIS WHISKY, NOT ONLY HAS 10 YEARS OF MATURATION IN FABULOUS AMERICAN BOURBON AND FRENCH GRENACHE CASKS ALLOWED THE PHENOL LEVEL TO CALM, IT HAS ALLOWED THE VISCOUS, OIL-RICH BODY OF THE WHISKY TO BUILD A STRONG CONFIDENT CHARACTER. THE BALANCE OF SMOKE, OAK AND FRUIT IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER OCTOMORES, AS THE PHENOLS NATURALLY FADE WITH AGE THE FABULOUS CASKS DEVELOP A STRONG HOLD GIVING SALTED CARAMEL, MARZIPAN, VANILLA AND CRUSTY MALTY BREAD.
FINISH
AFTER A COUPLE OF SIPS YOU MAY BE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING YOUR PALATE HAS BEEN ALTERED FOREVER AS THE SMOKE LINGERS FOR FULLY AN HOUR! THE DRY PEAT SMOKE WILL BE THE LAST FLAVOUR TO REMAIN; REMINISCENT OF PIPE TOBACCO ASH AND TEA BREWED OVER A FIRE WHILE CUTTING PEATS ON THE MOSS. THIS WHISKY IS SCARCE, IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO TASTE IT, TREASURE IT.
MOOD
THIS DRAM IS BRIGHT AND HONEST AND HAS DEPTH AND BACKBONE. WATCHING THIS SPIRITDEVELOP IS A PRIVILEGE. THERE IS A FEELING WITH OCTOMORE THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A SECRET TO BE REVEALED
