icsteel154
Octomore 11.3
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
June 26, 2021 (edited February 19, 2023)
(Good Spirits Co. Glasgow – Virtual Premium Whisky Tasting, 19th June 2021).
Nose: Soft peat, gorse, floral, bonfire/fireworks, salt/saline
Palate: Savoury peat smoke, dried dark fruit, liquorice, coastal/salty
Finish: Long (long!) finish. Vanilla, heavy oak char, bonfire. Sweet and full bodied.
194 PPM
18,000 bottles
For all of it’s full bodied character, this whisky has a creamy mouthfeel. This is a great, peaty dram! Surprisingly balanced, nuanced and soft. Gristy and salty, but really well thought through. Elegant for all its ludicrous peat! Oddly, this has none of the typical Islay BBQ notes.
Came third out of the six drams, with 13% (2 votes) of the final vote for favourite of the night. 81% of those present said they enjoyed the whisky.
175.0
GBP
per
Bottle
The Good Spirits Co.
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
@icsteel154 Wow! Surprised the 16y/o Glenmorangie beat out some of the older drams as it’s usually a hit or miss for a lot of people. Glad the Pittyvaich ended up in 2nd place as I’m eyeing a 25y/o OB from one of the Diageos special releases.
@Anthology At the end of the tasting, they ask the attendees what was their favourite, and whether they liked each of the whiskies or not. They then tell you the prices after the vote. I’ve put the scores and prices below: 1 - A Highland Distillery (50% fav / 88% liked / £79) 2 - Pittyvaich (38% fav / 88% liked / £328) 3 - Octomore 11.3 (13% fav / 81% liked / £175) =4 - Ardnamurchan (0% fav / 81% liked / £68.50) =4 - Dailuaine (0% fav / 75% liked / £142.50) =4 - Deanston (0% fav / 19% liked / £140)
@Anthology ‘A Highland Distillery’ is from the ‘Van Gogh series’ by the Dutch independent bottler First Cask. They don’t declare that it is a Glenmorangie, but the label has an image of Glenmorangie distillery and it tastes very like it, too! The order from the tasting was as below (I’ve put my scores in brackets I’m case it is of interest): 1 - A Highland Distillery (4.25) 2 - Pittyvaich (3.5) 3 - Octomore 11.3 (4.25) =4 - Ardnamurchan (4.0) =4 - Dailuaine (3.5) =4 - Deanston (3.0)
@icsteel154 That IS a pretty impressive lineup! Now I must ask, which dram won? What the ranking 1 through 6? Also, I assume the “A Highland Distillery” 16y/o 2005 was an IB. Which one?
@Anthology This was an amazing lineup! The full tasting was: ‘A Highland Distillery’ 16y/o 2005 (First Cask, Glenmorangie) Octomore 11.3 Ardnamurchan AD/04:21 Paul Launouis Release Pittyvaich 29y/o 2019 Special Release Dailuaine 1997 23y/o Signatory Cask Strength Collection Deanston 2002 17y/o Organic PX Finish I eventually bought the ‘A Highland Distillery’ 16y/o 2005 (First Cask, Glenmorangie), but it was very close between that, the Octomore and the Ardnamurchan for me. Any one of the six would be a great addition to any whisky shelf.
@icsteel154 What we’re the other 5 drams (for context…& science)?