Octomore 10 Year Second Edition (2016 Release)

Like her, a little every so often does so much. 🥥🥥🥥

I’m pretty sure it was this one. Peaty and delicious. Dang smooth

Bruichladdich Masterclass, The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 19 February 2018, Whisky #6 Nose: Rich leathery and earthy peat smoke. Softly oily and embracing. A cloud of evocative smoke that, enveloping as it is, cannot hide aromas of orange and lemon peel, apples, peaches, apricots, toffee, tobacco and ocean breakers. Beautiful oak notes that lend a touch of vanilla. Palate: Initially dry like a crisp dry white wine, then suddenly sweet citrus flavours come rolling in on briny vapours like a surfer riding a glistening arc of smoke. Lime, grapefruit, lemon, sweet persimmon, cantaloupe, mango, and white grapes. Licorice and salmiak. I agree with the official tasting notes here - this is a complex, ever-changing palate. Finish: Long. Very long. Floral, fruity, slightly briny and fading out eventually on sweetly gentle smoke with a touch of earthy oak, and leaving an aftertaste that lasts literally hours. Despite the mad peating level of the barley, by the time most Octomores make it into the glencairn the nose has tamed down a good deal, to the point that they smell less peated than many whiskies that only declare a level of around 40ppm. However this is different. This smells and tastes quite definitely of peat smoke, but the smoke is held in check by the softening of expert wood maturation. It's not as "sharp" as the typical Octomore smoke, it's soft but full - more like Benromach smoke. I am overjoyed that this whisky exists. Given that peat smoke decreases quickly with age it would be tempting for Bruichladdich to release everything very young so their peat monster was always as vigorous as possible. However this whisky proves that not only can Octomore withstand 10 years in ex-white wine barrels, it benefits from the treatment. The strange thing is that even though the peating level should logically be reduced compared with the 5 year matured expressions, it somehow seems to be enhanced by the extra time in casks. Whatever the reason, it is certainly a sweeter, rounder, more subtle and sophisticated type of smoke. I've tasted 6 Octomores now, including this one (6.1, 6.3, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3) and I have a sample of 5.1 waiting in the cupboard to try some time. I've not tried any of the 8 series, but of all those I've tried so far this was my favourite. Maybe I just don't like Octomore so young and prefer the softening that 10 years brings. Whatever the reason, I recommend this heartily, and it's the first Octomore I've given 5 stars. Welcome to the top shelf, if I can find a bottle. "Outstanding" : 90/100 (5 stars)