Tastes

The octomore we’ve all come to love, but witha a more refined and upscale pallet. The cognac finish adds a layer lf complexity on the back of the mouth I never experienced from an octomore, tastes like an older whiskey, very speasant. Peat is still upfront, but a little tamer than the .1 and definitely .3 variants. There is a certain fruitiness without the added sweetness of ex-bourbon barrels. Don’t pass on it, if it is your first octomore get ready to be wowed by something new and awesome!

Good intro to Octomore, my first pour was a little rough but it gets much easier once you’re ready for the richness and complexity. Nose is very tame, dare I say delicate compared to the pallet, very briney and smokey at first, but once you get past that the flavor settles into a sweet and rich taste. So many flovors to pull apart that I won’t even try, You will notice the proof, but once you get past it and aclimated you wont be able to stop sipping it. Not my favourite octomore, but octomore never disappoints, buy it, you wont regret it, then go and buy one of the “.3” releases and get blown away.

Oh my god is it good! Tried the quarter cask, sherry finish, Lore, elements 1.0, 16y, and cask stenght, this is my first Cairdeas, but its my favourite Laphroaig by a long stretch. Drinks like an order whiskey, more complex and refined, but reminds you of its age with the high peat, could spend an hour with it between nosing and tasting. Darker taste, but not dull. Sandalwood, dark cherry, charred beef, cinnamon, even some smoked paprika, PX is very present, not sure how much time it spent on that barrel, but it was more than a year or two for sure. Aroma is delicate for a Laphroaig, finish is long and sweet, smokiness fades a little and leaves you with a sweet and fruity taste. My 3rd favourite Islay, only behind two Octomores. Buy two bottles, youre going to go through it much faster than you think.

Nose: Delicious richness! Could nose the glass for hours, its really that enjoyable, its a sweet smell but a dry sweet smell, lots of complexity but its easy pull apart and anlyise. The proof hides under the richness of the smell, noses like a 90 proof or lower. Might be one of the best aromas I’ve ever got from a bourbon. Taste: The first thing that hits you its the proof, much higher than the nose suggested, but it doesn’t punch you in the face. Smooth, but by no means an easy bourbon for beginners, flavors are a little bit more difficult to pull apart as compared to the nose but is some toffee, cherry, peach, molasses, and a very delicate fruty and woody smell at the end, that’s definitely the armagnac speaking. Finish: Nose reminds me a lot of Rum Diplomatico Ambassador, I wish this Bhakta had a finish as long as that Diplomatico…….. flavor fades away much faster than anticipated, then there is a peppery taste that lingers for a bit, sweetness and richness is gone by this point though