Octomore 7.2 - 58,5%
Photo taken somewhere in Stuttgart
What can be said about Octomore malts? They are probably the most polarizing single malt expressions out there in the whisky cosmos. Exaggerating at every level: Highest peat ppm level, craziest bottle design, full transparency (+ highest bottle price for a youngster), et cetera. This time, the masters from Bruichladdich treated him to a syrah red vine finish. Well well, à votre santé then!
Nose
Seasalt spray, iodized bandages and pure vanillin sweetness! And indeed, we also find some gasoline and machine oil in it. After some minutes, a slight smell of pine needles ascends. We also had this at the Lagavulin 12 (2018 release), but more intensive.
With water: The maritime saltiness amplifies and becomes buttery somehow.
Palate
Neat: Powerful and rich aroma punch on the tongue first, followed by bitter grapefruit and lemon juice.Very heavy mouthfeel. We do like this combination! It's not really complex, but no wonder, considering this just matured for five years.
With water: Pure saltwater with vanilla now. A little bit unbalanced if you ask me.
Finish
Very long lasting, dry and citrussy. Well done for this low age.
Rating
Really good and powerful dram. Very often Octomore isn't that extreme as the marketing guys try to suggest. But we see this as a good thing. Compared with older expressions, from release to release, the whisky quality increases and becomes more balanced. But seriously, the content doesn't really justify the high price of >100 EUR (talking out of a german point of view). With this budget we would rather go for two fabulous Port Charlotte 10 or one of the 12 year old Islay neighbours (no names Sir).
