Octomore 10.1/107 Scottish Barley

Unreal.. it’s not as smoky as the ppm would have your believe. However, how they can get so much smoke, so much sweetness, so much dept. Excellent scotch, it’s almost like the ardbeg ugideal(awesome) turned to 11.

Nose: copper, slight gingerbread, honey baked ham, almond, lighter peat smoke than expected, anise, teriyaki sauce, citrus, salted caramel Palate: very warm mouth feel, upfront brine that fades quick, woody, slight citrus, peat smoke, clove spice, vanilla, maple bacon Finish: a fruit leather sweetness, clove spice, lingering oak and peat smoke

Predominant notes of smoke and barely with a subtle hint of licorice on the nose. Strong peaty taste with a subtle spiciness on the palate that diminishes over time turning subtly turning on a almost fruity tone. Great scotch!

This is the Octomore we need right now: not the usual slap in the face, but something a little more subtle, sexy and sophisticated for our anxious times. If you can tear yourself away from gazing at the almost pornographic manner in which the liquid clings to the side of your glass, you’ll find herbal lozenges and butterscotch mingling on the nose. That sensuous texture continues in the mouth as you savor the sweet, silky flavors: soursop and lychee came to mind for me, so there’s an exotic fruit cocktail underneath the rich layers of peat. That peat is dominant on the zesty, peppery finish, but overall it’s much more subdued on this Octomore than usual. And that’s a good thing, because this is a very well balanced whisky that drinks equally well neat or diluted to 50%. Octomore is always fun to try, but I’ve never felt the need to buy a bottle. This one I would happily pour frequently.

Drammers Club pour. Very good, amazes me how with Octomore you get more than just smoke despite high phenol contents and that all I get is smoke on Laphroaig 10. Nose: Vanilla, Peat, Smoke, Iodine, Caramel, Chocolate, Cherry, Flowers, Peach Taffy, Apricots, Citrus, Salmon, Mackerels, Salt, Bubblegum Palate: Caramel, Peach, Cherry, Apricot, Cherry, Chocolate, Salt, Tar, Iodine, Dried Fruit Finish: Vanilla, Chocolate Fudge, Peach, Salt, Flowers, Lemon Peels, Caramel, Toffee

Light on the nose. Sweet smelling Slight peater Tingly on the tongue with other slight apple flavour coming through.