Octomore 07.1/208 Scottish Barley

I recall when and where I first had an Octomore. It was back in 2013 at Jack Rose Saloon and the pour was the 5.1/169. I was really discovering how much I loved the peaty scotches and it was suggested I try it. Needless to say, every part of the night was rememberable. Since then, I have not had an Octomore until now through @Telex graciously providing me a sample. And on this cold night, perfect for a nightcap. The nose is peaty, though not overpowering. Sea spray on a winters gray day. Sulphur and ozone mixed with vanilla and brown sugar. A small hint of fruitiness of Granny Smith apple and apricots. A deep, rich sooty smokey arrival that’s Cayenne peppery hot. A syrupy brown sugar sweetness with lemon tartness swings around once the pringly sensation subsides. The pins and needles sensation swings right back around with the peatiness towards the finish. A long lasting ashy finish with lemon zest and salted caramel. Peat-smoke as advertised is what you get. Not overly complex. Packaged in a youthful and spry body keeps it somewhat erratic and energetic. Throw a few more years on this (would venture this is about 8 years) and this will make a top notch whisky. I love Bruichladdich and peated whiskies are what I enjoy most. However, I can grab a Lagavulin 16 or Ardbeg/Laphroaig 10 for a fraction of the cost of this scotch and still enjoy a great peaty scotch. That being said, this is worthy of a pour for those “peat heads”. [88/100][Tasted: 3/16/18]

A great find. Little cigar bar in San Diego. Found another Canadian. Women’s gold medal game on tv. Another Canadian at the bar (surprisingly unfriendly but he is fro. Toronto). Thick drink which is wonderful. What you pay is what you get. Not a 5 but lay definitely not a 4.

Bruichladdich Masterclass, The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 19 February 2018, Whisky #4 Nose: Softly smoky at first, like all Octomore, but a little more ashy than usual. Gentle old oak and a definite iodine note with some lemon zest and barley sugar, but no maritime brine. Resin or eucalyptus - something sharply oily and aromatic. With water there's a solvent and nutty aroma but it remains an oddly cold and austere nose. Palate: Spicy, oaky and astringent out of the gate. Grassy, but not herbal - just grassy. There's also a lemon-drop lolly flavour, almost like synthetic lemon. Big smoke starts to evolve with each sip and the essential watering brings out some more lemon and nuts. Good texture. Finish: A long, dry and slightly nutty end with the predictable smoke. Predictable - that's the word. What a terrible thing to have to say about any whisky, but that's how I call it. Not one of the most interesting I've tasted - almost as spirit driven as a can of gasoline. I prefer Port Charlotte to Octomore and that may be the issue here, because I tasted this immediately after the lovely Port Charlotte Islay Barley. It would be interesting to sample this in isolation, but I'm not buying a bottle just to do that. Anyway, the bride of Frankenstein always appealed to me more than the monster himself. "Good" : 84/100 (3.75 stars)