Bruichladdich Octomore 06.3 Islay Barley

Bruichladdich Octomore 06.3 Islay Barley, 5 YO, 64 %

Bruichladdich Octomore 06.3 Islay Barley

This is the first Octomore, the super heavily peated whisky from Bruichladdich, distilled from 100 % Islay barley. The Bruichladdich Octomore 06.3 Islay Barley was distilled in 2009. It has a phenol level of a whopping 258 ppm, which wipes the floor with the previous Octomores with their measly ppm level in the 80.5 - 169 range.

A total of 18000 bottles were released in this "limited edition".

Nose (23/25): Fresh licorice, caramel, a pinch of sea salt and a mellow sweetness. Warm and very, very rich peat smoke. Freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice. Cereal, and then the crust of freshly baked bread - from that expensive craft bakery down the street. A faint hint of something green - a bit herbal, mint perhaps.

Taste (22/25): Rich and creamy. Pepper and chili smoke - not just puffs but literally mouthfuls - making it a bit hard to breathe for a second. Wow! Power punch! Then - once I have managed to pick myself up off the floor, I start noticing the very fruity backdrop here. Oranges, apples, grape fruit, red berries, citrus and fresh herbs. Then I pick up chocolate and a mild oakiness.

Finish (22/25): More fresh herbs now, mixed with caramel swirls and more fruits. The fruits are of the autumnal variety - pears and ripe apples, winter apples maybe. Wood smoke covers the whole virtual landscape.

Balance (22/25): Again I am amazed at how sweet the Octomore is, and how mature for its age. They are also consistently less peaty than one would expect from reading the insane ppm levels. Do not be afraid, good people, this is well-worth a try. Sláinte!

Score (89/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas