Bruichladdich Masterclass, The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 19 February 2018, Whisky #5 Nose: Very soft laid-back smoke over green apples and sweet lemon. A subtle floral fragrance like vanilla blossoms on a balmy evening. Adding water unlocks the door to a deluge of smoke of varying thickness, oiliness and aroma. While it is a soft nose it is also clearly defined and a delight to explore. Palate: Fruity and oaky, quite a full texture with sharp citrus, waxy peat, anise or fennel, salt-spray and honeysuckle. Some sweet malty cereal and a background of earthy smoke like the smell of a hangi [earth oven] before the food goes in - rich, deep, warm and not the slightest bit acrid. A very agreeable oily texture but also clean and crisp. Adding water turns the smoke up to 11. Finish: A soft, comfortable lingering dryness underpinning endless smoke. A very nice whisky indeed, and much more interesting than the sophomore 7.1 and the awkward 7.2. Despite the daunting abv this is almost (almost!) drinkable neat. I did find that I needed to cool it down to around 50%, at which point it becomes much more complex and subtle. I'd strongly recommend watering it. If you're a fan of Octomore but have not tried this one and you see a bottle I'd recommend buying it while you can. Easily one of the high water marks of this family of expressions. "Outstanding" : 91/100 (5 stars)