Octomore 07.2/208 Cask Evolution

Nose: Nosing it neat the first thing I noticed was a big oily, herby, smoky cloud of peat. No surprises there. After the first wave of smoke I got honey notes, a touch of citrus fruit, and faint spices (caraway, cardamom, fennel and anise). A distant rubbery note as well. It produces a wall of further smoky, peaty aromas when diluted. Palate: Tasted neat there is a surprisingly soft and fruity arrival that is then borne aloft on a cushion of smoky peat the size of Islay itself. A rich, sweet character with hints of berries, oranges and honey. Also a little lemony citrus. Surprisingly, it's a fairly simple palate that is dominated by this handful of powerful flavours. The texture is pleasantly oily, which balances the drying nature of the strong alcohol content well, but it is still hot on the tongue and it all seems curiously tight and hard to access. That's not an unusual thing with high-proof whisky, but this one seems particularly restrained. Finish: Predictably long, fruity and spicy. The sweet smoke reasserts itself and eventually fades as the final note. It's only after a while that you realize how smoky and peaty this really is. A pleasant enough experience but while there are some nice moments it's far from being the best Octomore I've tasted. For a big hefty bruiser of a whisky it’s prissy about getting its toes wet. It needs water in order to bloom and release all the locked up berry and grape flavours and aromas, but it is very fussy about dilution. If you get the amount of water perfect it suddenly springs to life and there is a flood of fruity goodness to enjoy, however if you add just one drop too much it just as suddenly turns flat, dusty, and dull. It’s worth tasting for the experience, but I wouldn’t recommend buying a whole bottle. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)

I decided to do a side by side Octomore review tonight between the 07.1 and 07.2 to follow up the 07.3 review I did a couple days ago. First up is the 07.2 Bottled at 58.5% ABV, non chill filtered, and a natural color of golden amber, this 5 year old Islay malt boasts a staggering 208 ppm. It is aged in a combination of ex bourbon American oak casks and European oak casks that once held French Shiraz/Syrah wine. This expression is a travel retail exclusive that I picked up at the US-Canadian border. The nose has beautiful peat smoke. Not an oppressive, smothering smoke, but a lighter more manageable smoke. Heather honey, red berries and hints of sweet red wine. Red grapes, cereal malt and hints of maraschino cherries. It’s quite sweet, but definitely on the lighter side. More fruits like peach, apricot, pear and a touch of spearmint. Definitely shows its youth The palate is full of peppery peat smoke. Sweet, red wine and grapes, berries. Light oak, cherries, and honey. Some bonfire ashes and it has a slightly medicinal Laphroaig type note. Medium bodied mouthfeel with a light oiliness that turns slightly dry. A medium long finish with red fruits and smoky lemons. The extra fruity notes introduced by the wine casks added a nice layer of depth, but like the 07.3, it shows its youth and overall lack of real complexity. On the plus side, it’s very drinkable despite its high ABV. You only need a little to make your night. 4.25 Cheers