Octomore Masterclass 08.3/309 Islay Barley

Octomores are expensive. I am a fan of Octomore. Most of them are worth the price of admission. This one is not. Octomore has marketed themselves as the peatiest of all whiskies, and the 8.3 is the peatiest of all Octomores. You would expect such a whisky to be unforgettable, but it is not. Being a fan of peat is like being a fan of hot sauce. If you are so inclined, there are plenty of hot sauces claiming to be at insane levels of heat, and they will hurt your palate, to be sure, but they are forgettable curiosities after the initial cataclysm on contact. Octomore 8.3 offers much less depth than other Octomores, but, I agree, it is the peatiest. This shit tastes like if your lung cancer got cancer. Wheareas previous Octomores taste remarkably mature for their age, this one tastes like it is 5 years old, and there’s very little to draw from it rather than a hateful style of metallic Terminator T-800 peat. I normally score the travel retail exclusive Octomores (x.2) as the worst Octomores, because I have a bias against TREs. But when some TRE Octomores are tasted blind against 8.3, this is my least favorite Octomore. However, I must still emphasize that I am a fan of Octomore, and I would still clearly consume this whisky if the price was right, valuing a bottle at $100. Score: 0 (forgettable) How much does a bottle cost: $200-250 How much do I think a bottle is worth: $100

peaty. very strong

5 years old 61.2% abv Natural color Non chill-filtered Nose: bonfire/tire fire pest smoke goodness is in effect, but behind it reveals kiwi, cider apple, hint of pineapple along with pepper, caramel and vanilla. Taste: Wow! bold, chili pepper hits immediately, building into a creamy, almost sorbet sweet fruitiness. There a hint of chocolate, too, which blends nicely. Also, sweet, sweet barley sugar and maybe a floral note, too? All in all nicely balanced and quite complex but a bit cloying for my taste. Finish: medium, lead by pepper and smoke, with vanilla and some juicy fruits (plum, pear and blackberry) rounding it out and a slight cafe mocha at the tail end. Value: at anywhere from $180-$250 dollars, I can’t say it’s worth the cost considering comparable options. Final thoughts: as this was my first Octomore, I want to rate this higher. It’s damn good. The complexity intrigued me like few other young pleated single malts. It reminds me most of Arran Machrie Moor but with way more peat. But the cost is simply too much in my opinion. And my approach to reviewing includes cost as a factor. So while it’s a better peated malt than, say, Ardbeg 10 or Kilchoman Machir Bay or most core Laphroaigs, it’s a stretch to say it’s (at least) $100 better. Final score: 3.5/5 (Recommend trying or buying a bottle at a good price. H/t to @LeeEvolved for the generous sample. Thanks for sharing with me my first taste of the vaunted Octomore!

One of Bruichladdich's super heavily peated' whiskies at 309.1 ppm, compared to other typical Islay topping out at 40 ppm. The nose reflects the tar and heavy alcohol at 61.2%. Amazingly some of the sweetness still comes through. Typically drink in small sips with the taste of chocolate toffee quickly followed by the burn of alcohol and smoke. Enjoy for the uniqueness and the complexity under the peat. But not a drinking whisky and always the last drink of the day, leaving time for your taste buds to overcome the scorching.

$38!!! Great after taste

Oh, Octomore...it’s been too long. I’ve always considered Octomore as THE love song to peatheads, like myself. I’ve skipped a few vintages since I didn’t necessarily feel the need to try them all. However, when Bruichladdich said the 8.3 Masterclass was the heaviest of them all, well I had to bite. They knew I would- and I hate them for it. This is just like your favorite Octomore- 5 years old and finished in multiple wine casks. This one boasts Islay barley exclusivity (terroir, bitches) and comes in at 309ppm. Can the human tongue even detect an amount that high? I doubt it. It looks good in print and on the packaging, though. It’s standard yellow gold with thin droplets and skinny legs- thanks to the hearty 61.2% ABV. You’ll think your local Dept of Transportation is paving your front yard as soon as the cork is popped. Ah, fresh tar... The nose is...(surprise!) fresh tar, burning tires and smoky alcohol. Pepper burn stings a bit if you get too friendly too early. Give it the time and distance it commands and you’ll pick up some nice, chocolate depth and rich, berry and plum sweetness- provided your nose works like it should. The palate is smoked peppers and a heavy, malt burn. Sugary toffee cremes really balance this out better than any Octomore I can remember. It’s oily and super rich- grasping your tastebuds and attempting to pull them from your tongue. Chocolate-dipped raspberries find their way into the corners of your mouth and do their best to counter the smoke and chili spices. It works. Really, really well. The depth is amazing. The finish is a bit rushed, as more chili and red pepper spice and heavy smoke coat everything. The youthful juice finally reveals some harsh aspects, but you’ll be so focused on how to get the burn to subside you may not notice it. The first few sips I had to restrain myself from reaching for some water to calm the fires. So, my first 2-3 drams were quite amazing here. I was ready to proclaim this the best Octomore I’ve ever had. Ready to score it a 6 on a scale to 5. Then, the oxidation took hold and really deadened this bottle for me. The final few drams seemed flat. Still smoky, still warming, but the fire was out. I started getting cola notes and soft, milky vanilla- which is something I don’t associate with Octomore. It didn’t kill the score, per se, but it was no longer a 6- hell, no longer a perfect 5. Like most Octomore I was sad to see the last few drops fall from the bottle, but my excitement fell with those drops. Maybe I don’t need Octomore anymore. I’m jaded. At $192, I’m not sure it’s a great deal anymore. Jesus, what’s wrong with me? What have I become? 4.25 stars. I’m sad to say that. Cheers, my friends.