Octomore 10.2/96.9 Scottish Barley

I'm on a roll with the 4.5's. I believe this will be four in a row. The nose is salty sweet wine and smoke. The peat comes across as slightly more prominent than the Sauternes, but they’re fairly balanced - which is a little surprising considering the PPM is still near 100 (even though this may be one of the least heavily peated Octomores). Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength are two in my cabinet that come across as more heavily peated on the nose. The notes include peach, citrus, tropical fruit, sandy seashell, slightly medicinal peat, campfire smoke. The palate continues the balance shown on the nose. It’s a little hotter than I expected, so found myself adding a little water. It starts soft and sweet with the dessert wine flavors, but transitions into smoky peat. On the palate the sweetness feels less fruity and more confectionery. Some pepper shows up going into the finish. It seems like the sweet hangs on more than the peat. Out of curiosity, I tried this side-by-side with Balcones Peated Sauternes Cask. I started off thinking it would be an interesting comp but ultimately the Octomore would easily win out. To my surprise, the nose on the Balcones was better to me. However, I gave the nod to the Octomore on the palate. I liked the briny and medicinal peat flavor in the Octomore better. Overall, they’re much more evenly matched than I’d expected, but I think I’d have the Octomore ahead by a hair. While this gets an overall 4.5, for the price I kind of expected a little more. I was similarly a bit underwhelmed by the only other Octomore tasting I've had. It'll be a fun bottle to share with friends, but I'm not sure I'll be jumping at the chance to buy another any time soon.

Compared to 13.2

Nose - Sweet smoke, black pepper, sweet teriyaki "meat" jerky, saline (w/ water) less "meaty" and more fruity Taste - Sweet ashy smoke, sweet golden raisins, black pepper, saline, lightly sour lactic/sour grape "funk", savory sweet smoked meats (w/ water) Sweet "dry" smoke, more peppery, salt, golden raisins, white pepper tingle, lactic sour "funk" is more apparent at the tail end right after the swallow Finish - Lingering white pepper/ashy sweet, sweet golden raisins (w/ water) same Score - 94/100 Final Thoughts - I'm not entirely sure if I just really like things out of Bruichladdich or if they just have the perfect peat for my palate as even their Octomore, which is supposedly some of the highest ppm levels of "peat" doesn't feel too overly so to me. I think it's such a clean peat in addition to their spirit which, to me, has this unique lactic "funk" along with salt that just hits my palate just right. Everything about this is just the right amount of sweet + savory for me without being overpowering. Maybe it's the fact that this is a slightly older Octomore or maybe it's the fact that it's had some sauternes influence, but this just hits most of the buttons I just like. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Yes NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

high pep berry grape red wine pear fruity a bit too much red sweetness n high pep harsh 2 strong flavour - red grape, berry, sweetness,high pep oaky, bitterness, oaky is quite powerful in this, sourness 1.5 oaky peet , rough 1.5 1.75