Age: 5 years old Alcohol: 58.5% Maturation: Ex-Bourbon cask with finishing in ex-French Syrah casks from Rhone Valley Paid: $182 (Travel retail exclusive) This is the only x.2 Octomore I have tried and, as is the rule with travel retail exclusives, it is disappointing. The consolation prize is that it’s still an enjoyable whisky, but not for $182. Red wine and volcanic ash is a strange combination. The explorations of peat and red wine by Springbank, with their Longrow Red series are more to my liking because they show me that wine is missing more alcohol and some peat. Octomore 7.2 looks at things from the other way around: Is a peat monster missing some wine? No. This is not an improvement over the x.1s. The cheapest and easiest to find Octomore in my area is the 6.1, and it is much better without the wine influence. Some water is mandatory with this 7.2, otherwise you get this awkward ash polluted with Syrah. Even with water, it just brings out the buttery and savory goodness that the basic 6.1 and 7.1 already has in abundance. The arrival is surprisingly delicate for the high ABV, but this one also finishes bitterer compared to the x.1s. MARK: 88/100. Not recommended. If you want to spend money on an Octomore, try x.1 and x.3s.