Distillery/Brand: Bruichladdich
Region: Islay
ABV: 59.5%
Color: Sunlight

Nose: 23
Taste: 23
Finish: 24
Balance: 23

Review
The Octomore is one of those cult series that needs to be collected. From it’s suave packaging to it’s lofty claims of the highest peat concentration in a whisky (169 ppm in this case) it has all the flair of a spectacularly executed heist.

A heist of the senses that is.

With it’s high strength spirit (59.5%) and enormous peat levels one could be mistaken for thinking it is undrinkable and a gimmick at best. Something to pander a 5 year old spirit, perhaps. They could not be further from the truth.

Nose: A smoky pudding of peat and caramel infused with the loveliest of ginger vanilla. Dusted with the charred remains of lemon crusted kippers. The high strength takes a while to get past the nose but once it holds you it doesn’t let go.

Palate: Crisp like green apples and raisin cider with a lemony hardboiled sweetness. The burnt sea comes in next on a wave of peaty seaweed and ashy iodine.

Finish: Long and magical with the same lemony soot found on the palate.

This is truly an iron fist in a velvet glove. Like a young fiery king hell bent on pounding you into submission.

Rating: 93