Octomore 07.2/208 Cask Evolution

Color: Bright gold Nose: High in alcohol. A touch of caramel. Palette: Mindblowing bursts of ocean, the sea and salt. Strong and unforgettable. Finish: Dry. Strong peat and sweet finish. A solid travel exclusive. Needs a touch of water as it is too strong without it.

Drinking this alongside the 07.1, and can say quite definitively that I prefer the other one to this. Nose is a bit rough...a not-quite-matured-enough blend of red wine and smoke. Smokier than the 7.1 on the nose for me, but the drawback is the awkward combination at play. It mellows with time but not enough. On the palate, its improved as the smoke takes center stage and the whisky somehow remains immensely drinkable neat despite its 208 ppm and cask strength ABV. The wine makes a bit more sense now, and leaves its mark with sticky sweetness at the end similar to a very dry Syrah. The finish isn't as refined as the 7.1 either, as it bows out rather quickly in comparison and leaves that sticky wine residue as opposed to lingering smoke. It's hardly bad...in fact its one you might drink to punish your palate a bit. My search for the best Octomore continues!