Review #092 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 62.11% Comments: aged 5 years, distilled from barley grown at Islay’s Octomore farm, super heavily peated to 118.1 PPM, 75% matured in 1st fill ex-bourbon casks, 25% matured in Fernando de Castilla PX Sherry butts Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Amber color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, it starts to bead up quickly, but legs are very slow to form. Nose: 18/20 Sooty peat smoke, vanilla, caramel, adhesive bandages, and a nice maritime salinity. There’s also a very light squeeze of lemon zest and a hint of sweet fruit lingering in the background, maybe strawberries? Absolutely mouth watering. Palate: 38/40 Nice oily mouthfeel. Thick and heavy peat smoke, charcoal, thick clover honey, caramel, milk chocolate covered raisins, sweet and bitter red wine tannins, spicy oak tannins, ripe and juicy tangerines, and a little briny. The flavors are raw and powerful, yet perfectly balanced. The end result is absolutely delicious. Finish: 36/40 Very long finish. Wisps of peat smoke dance through my mouth, while adhesive bandages mingle with salted caramels, apricots, and buttered charred sweet corn right off the grill. As this ridiculous (yet tasty!) combination of flavors slowly fades, the peat smoke remains and is joined by ashes and a subtle earthy flavor, before finally ending with a lingering mild wintergreen. With Water: A few drops of water introduces peaches and warm strawberry rhubarb pie to the nose, fantastic! There’s a bit more salinity on the palate and some lemon drop candies on the finish as well. Total: 92/100 Final thoughts: Let’s start with a basic fact: all Octomore is expensive. I think some are worth the price tag, while others are not. I also think this one is worth every penny. My favorite whiskies are the ones that take my taste buds on a rollercoaster ride, and this is a bottle that certainly does just this. It never fails to make my head spin on the first sip, there’s just so much going on, you can loose time sitting here with this whisky slowly savoring abs processing each sip. And for me it also comes with a memory of my brother and I first trying this in a small pub on Rose St during our first trip to Edinburgh. Needless to say, we were both floored and put buying bottles of our own at the top of our shopping lists. Price: $190 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.