Octomore 11.3

Fascinating savory bouquet of dried smoked little fish in a sunny open market with salty air rising off the sea nearby, boiled peanuts, lemon curd, approaching summer storm on a humid day, whiffs of musty closet and Dr. Pepper with a palate to match including lemon curd, peanut oil, root beer barrel candies, and unprocessed gray sea salt on a long finish with a medium burn that is not overpowering.

The nose rich with bold flavors starting with coffee rubbed smoked brisket, lemon gelato and burning hay bales then toasted marshmallow, dark chocolate covered almonds and seaside rocky minerality followed by sautéed cinnamon apples and candy peach rings that transitions to ginger, popsicle sticks and gauze bandages with high ethanol burn. The taste is a rich creamy mouthfeel starting with a mild spice that quickly fades to pear tarte, coffee rubbed brisket and charred lemon then dark chocolate mocha, burning hay and seaside rocky minerality followed by sautéed apples and nectarines that transitions to ginger, black pepper and gauze bandages with high ethanol burn. The finish is long with dark chocolate covered candied bacon, espresso, light ocean brine, burning hay, sautéed apples, candied lemon peel, ginger, popsicle sticks and gauze bandages that lingers for minutes. Just like the 11.1 this needed around 20 minutes to open up as the ethanol overpowers the flavors when first poured but with time and a few drops of water those intense and rich flavors emerged with earthy spice rubbed smoked meats leading followed by a candied citrus, hay, ocean brine and mild spices that carries over to the palate with a better balance than the 11.1 with a lighter spice and sweeter fruits that finishes long with candied bacon, earthy spices and sweet creamy fruits. At around $250+, this was a splurge bottle that I felt justified the cost after @ctbeck11 was kind enough to share a pour of it with me and I’d recommend anyone interested to try it before buying.

Delicious BBQ meats. So enjoyable and easy to drink. I wish I could afford to drink this more often.