Octomore Masterclass 08.1/167

Great dram but amongst 300 others here at dramfest not a standout. Tastes like a younger spirit. Solid 4. Flavor comes through on tip of tongue.

A brace of Octomores — 8.1 and 8.3 — to wrap up my unreliable tasting notes from the recent WhiskyLive event in New York. Both were smoky, of course, but also deliciously sweet in a rich, mouth-coating way. Neither the smoke nor the proof made these challenging to drink: the explosion of jammy flavors was too delicious to resist. I marked these both down as five stars as I drank them, and even though I wonder whether my generous ratings for the night were driven more by my intoxicated euphoria than my critical faculties I do think they are both outstanding. The 8.1 had the slight edge, with the bourbon wood providing a more balanced finish than the sweeter barrels of the 8.3.

unexpectedly subtle.