Tastes

Sweet, easy drink. The low proof makes this a easy supper, no water or ice. The nose has some maple notes, the finish is easy but short. For the price, this is very approachable.

On the side of the bottle states, caramel, oak and spice… this notes are right there n target. Definitely very different than the old No. 7. For the price around $33, is acceptable.

Wow... what a FUNK! From the first nose, the funk was strong with this one. I had other "heavily peated" scotches, like Port Charllote Heavy Peated and Compass Box Peat Monster, but this one was at another level, unfortunately, not in my wheelhouse. There's definitely briny taste, salty, but not like Talisker, like a little too much. In summary, this is not in my wheelhouse, so I am glad that it was a sample that I was able to get and not a full bottle.

I got a small sample of this whisky; wow, this has a punch. At first, the peat was very intense, but after a few minutes, it let other aromas like citrus and a little honey/sweet come out. Matured in refill American oak, I was expecting a little sweetness, but it was not there. Instead, I found a little tart and harshness in the finish... For me is one of those whiskies that I have to be in a certain mood to enjoy it. In comparison, I can have a dram of Lagavulin 16 anytime.

Finally opened the bottle that was staring at me for several months. On the nose, I recognize a note that I normally relate to Rye... a little grassy and minty. This was surprising, as according to various sources, the blend contains whiskeys that with mash that were about 6% Rye. I got a little oak, but not too much, some vanilla, or brown sugar, and maybe tobacco or leather. On the palate, the mint was there, but lightly; species and peppery (maybe), but with a sweetness that smooths things out. The finish was smooth, but a little light and short for me. At 45% ABV, is not too harsh, nor too warm, so it's easy to sip. The whiskey coated the glass very well, Does this means anything? I don't know, but sometimes you hear about "coating" and "legs" and other terms that push people to believe that thicker legs is a characteristic of a good quality dram. Overall, I am not disappointed with this whiskey, considering the price tag. I think is different, good, and easy to sip and what else can I ask for. If the finish was a little longer, it would have been a 4+ for me.

My taste was a neck pour, so I let it rest for about 10 minutes and the difference was noticeable. Caramel, oak, dark sugar. Overall a good drink.

My first Octomore... I wonder if it's true that you never forget your first one. Had the opportunity to get a sample of this whisky, very fortunate. After reading that this release was rated at 167 ppm, I was expecting a slap on the nose, but surprisingly, it wasn't as strong as I expected. This does not mean that it was not peaty, because it was, but I was preparing for a stronger punch. That came later, in the first sip. The first sip was a slap on the senses... the smokiness was strong on the first two sips, with light notes of honey, and vanilla. By the third sip, the peat moved to the third row in the bus, and the honey, vanilla and light fruit moved to the front. The finish was very good, in which the peat stayed with me for several minutes. For those that like the smoky/peated whisky, if you get the opportunity, go for it.

This blended whiskey was flat, almost like it had a little too much water and diluted the flavors. There was a little spicy, peppery taste, but it quickly dissipated. I much follow through. At 41% abv, it could be used as a mixer, but watch for how much ice you use.