After 15 years of Octomore, it appears like they will need to have burned by all of the peat in Scotland to provide this ultra-smoky whisky. Apparently that’s not the case, because the Octo-trio is again once more with one query on its thoughts: How a lot peat are you able to deal with? As standard Octomore has loads of surprises in retailer for you, and none of them revolve round making your mouth style like the underside of an ashtray. Throughout a current Zoom-based tasting with head distiller Adam Hannett, we took a tour of 2024’s new releases, adopted by a extra in-depth tasting on our personal.
Ideas comply with.
Bruichladdich Octomore 15.1 – 5 years previous (as is the norm), bourbon-barreled in 72% first-fill and 28% re-charred barrels; peated to 108.2 ppm of phenols — pretty low for Bruichladdich. 100% Scottish Concerto barley. Just a little gentle on the peat this yr, however few could discover. Oaky, smoky, and toasty on the nostril, with overtones of beef barbecue and black pepper. Vanilla and a few banana fruit notes are secreted into the expertise, however accessible in the event you search them out. Fairly toasty and tannic on the palate, with rising notes of smoked meats and contemporary, inexperienced grass. The fruit is muted and tamped down. although the banana high quality creeps into focus with time, paired with a nutty inexperienced walnut character. Smoky, charry bonfire notes are by no means removed from attain, the end ringed with saline and notes of moist wooden. Just a little blunt for the model in comparison with prior expressions. 118.2 proof. B / $205
Bruichladdich Octomore 15.2 – Aged in second-fill wine casks (42%) and second-fill bourbon casks (58%). Recasked in 2023 into first-fill Cognac casks. 108.2 ppm, 5 years previous. A departure for Octomore x.2, which strikes past wine cask ending into Cognac. A wildly completely different animal, sharp and fruity on the nostril, with a sweetness that, when paired with the peat, evokes notes of grilled peaches. That banana continues to be there, as is a tropical mixture of pineapple and coconut, plus some soothing almond butter notes on prime. Candy and smoky on the palate, in equal measure: extra of that grilled fruit, nutty almond husks, then a smattering of inexperienced herbs. More and more peppery on the end, with an echo of barbecued beef. A light-weight contact of raisin evokes the Cognac cask, nevertheless it’s by no means in-your-face within the slightest, only a light contact of grape jam and a touch of lavender, set towards the backdrop of the ocean. A killer whisky. 115.8 proof. A- / $245
Bruichladdich Octomore 15.3 – 100% Octomore Farm-grown barley, matured in first-fill bourbon barrels (69%) and first-fill oloroso sherry hogsheads (31%). 307.2ppm. The massive boy of the yr exudes sherry from the highest. Nutty and citrusy, with a pointy, spiced orange peel character, this whisky (as is commonly the case) feels much less smoky than both of the above two Octomores. It’s earthy and laden with petrol, but additionally crammed with fruit. An incense-like high quality builds with time in glass. On the palate, the 61.3% abv whisky is aggressive and tight, a pungent assault that includes lemon and orange peel, adopted by a heavy dose of florals. At full proof it’s a bruiser, however water curiously brings out extra of the whisky’s earthier tones. Extra airtime helps the nuttier facets of the whisky to point out themselves extra clearly, the citrus meandering extra towards barely bitter grapefruit peel notes, backed up by loads of salty sea spray. Immersive and by no means wanting intense, with a petroleum chaser. 122.6 proof. B+ / $280
Bruichladdich Octomore 15.3
$280
