Kategoriarkiv: Octomore

Bruichladdich, Islay, Octomore

Octomore 09.3 – Dialogos

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 62.9 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is peat and oak. At first there’s a big hit of an ashy, dry woodfire peat with a surrounding layer of rounded vanilla and a thin, ripe, red berry note. It’s a very dry nose with the oakiness really accentuating the peatiness. There are notes of unscented lotion as well. With a bit of imagination some brighter fruits are detectable behind the big woodfire. This is a nice nose but it’s not especially complex or interesting. It’s very dry and very oaky.

Mouth: It starts out with a mix of oak and peat, where the peat now presents itself a lot more interesting with dry soil, seasalt, ash, iodine and fresh burning wood. It’s quite astingent and mineral rich. The oakiness is really pushing itself through to the point where it almost outshines the peat. The whole thing comes through as very rich and has a nice power to it which feels essential to pulling this off. There’s still a thin, surrounding layer of vanilla and ripe fruits.

Finish: There’s a second or two of very dry and astringent oak before the peat and the spicyness take front. It’s now once again more ashy and mineral rich and less medicinal/coastal. In the background lies a complex mess of ripe fruits, malt and peat but it feels a bit irrelevant since the whole feels way too oaky and astringent. The finish is extremely long and the woodfire keeps on burning a long time down the road. This is a very good whisky but the virgin oak mixed with the high PPM level creates a big woodfire which at first is impressive bit soon gets a bit annoying.

Additional information
This whisky was distilled in 2012 with a PPM value of 133. It was aged in a mix of first fill ex-american (25 %), third fill virgin oak (25 %), second fill ex-Riversaltes (20 %), second fill Syrah (20 %) and lastly, spirit aged in second fill ex-bourbon barrels (10 %). It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bruichladdich, Islay, Octomore

Octomore 10.4 – Dialogos Virgin Oak (CSL Remy Cointreau)

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 63.5 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a savory peatiness in the center surrounded by honey, vanilla and oak. It’s quite approachable even though it has a high ABV. There’s a spicy layer on top with menthol and iodine. The peatiness meets the oakiness in a warm burning campfire somewhere in between. There’s also a herbal side to the whole as well as a dark chocolate. This is not especially complex, but it balances the virgin oak and the peat very well, This is a very good nose which really feels older than its 3 years.

Mouth: It starts out with an ashy outer layer and a chili spicyness. Underneath lies a mix of dark chocolate, savory peat and oak. There are notes of vanilla and honey, but it’s not as sweet as on the nose. There’s a maltiness moving along nicely throughout as well. After a few seconds the oakiness starts to push through, but the high ABV is really helping the other flavours along until it gets too overwhelming. There’s no fruitiness coming through at all. It feels very young at this point which brings it down a notch.

Finish: The spicyness spreads out over the palate and it’s a very powerful transition. When it settles there are notes of black liquorice, dark chocolate and a herbal oakiness. When the power subsides it becomes more bitter in the background and a miniscule grapefruit note shows up far away from the spotlight. There’s a charcoal note in the middle and the peat has now moved out towards the edges. The late finish is all about the virgin oak casks though. This is a very good whisky with a lot more to offer than percieved by the young age. It’s not the easiest whisky to approach, but for those who can take the heat, there’s a lot to offer.

Additional information
This whisky was aged for 3 years in virgin european limousin oak casks. The PPM value is 88. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bruichladdich, Islay, Octomore

Octomore 12.3

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 62.1 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 5/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and heavily peated. At first there’s a very sooty peat and a honey and vanilla sweetness coming out of the glass. Underneath lies some coastal notes like ocean air and a hint of seaweed. When it starts to settle and the nose gets accustomed to the intense flavours there’s a floral note on top and some sweet, mild berries underneath arriving slowly. It’s very approachable and the high ABV is just creating a mellow minty layer on top. There are many notes floating by, such as chocolate, iodine, violets, oak etc. This makes the experience feel like a treasure hunt. This is a great nose. It’s incredibly rich and interesting to explore.

Mouth: It starts out with a chili spicyness surrounding the palate while the center part immidiately grows into a big ball of honey, vanilla and a sooty, mineral rich peatiness. In the background there’s a savory note as well as a black coffee/dark chocolate bitterness sitting together with some ripe berries. There are hints of assorted nuts and the oakiness is slowly arriving out towards the edges. A lemon peel note is found in the background mix as well. The heavy peat seems to merge with everything else and it doesn’t feel as peaty as on the nose.

Finish: The transition starts with a quick flare of the red berries and lemon before the chili spicyness returns. The sweet center never really reaches the same height as before which gives room for a mix of coastal notes, iodine, lemon, coffee, soot and oak. These notes lasts for a long time before the finish starts to fade. It becomes slightly dry and astringent in the late finish and the oakiness is fresh and decent. It’s not the most characterful oakiness, but it does its job while the sooty peat lingers. This is a fantastic and powerful whisky with a lot to offer to those who dare to venture beyond the peat. It’s an extremely flavourful experience.

Additional information
This whisky was aged for 5 years in first fill ex-american whiskey casks (75%) and first fill ex-PX sherry casks (25%). The PPM value is 118.1. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bruichladdich, Islay, Octomore

Octomore 09.1 – Dialogos

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 59.1 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Sample added to queue. Tasting notes pending.

See the queue here.

Additional information
This whisky was distilled in 2012 with a PPM value of 156. It was aged in ex-bourbon barrels for 5 years. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bruichladdich, Islay, Octomore

Octomore 11.1 – Dialogos

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 59.4 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Sample added to queue. Tasting notes pending.

See the queue here.

Additional information
This whisky was distilled in 2014 with a PPM value of 139.6. It was aged in first fill ex-bourbon barrels for 5 years. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

Bruichladdich, Islay, Octomore

Octomore 10 Years – Dialogos

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 56.8 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 5/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and very peaty. At first there’s a burnt, sweet oakiness with vanilla on top. Underneath lies a very ashy and medicinal peatiness. As it settles in the glass the peatiness becomes more and more prominent and after a few seconds a complex note arrives in the center. It’s a mix of red berries, apple juice and aged cheese. There’s a freshness to it and a hint of ginger ale can be found floating around. With time in the glass the cask influence gives the peatiness a good fight for attention. This is a fantastic nose with a lot to discover, both in within the peatiness and behind the peat curtain.

Mouth: It starts out quite mild and fruity with honey, vanilla, toffee and fresh grapes. There’s some oak notes shining through as well. After a few seconds the peatiness burst through as well as a peppery spicyness. It’s an outer layer of ashy peat and a center part with leather and a complex funky note. The back of the palate fills with overripe berries as well as the medicinal notes. The intensity of the flavours keeps on growing and the pepper notes are very intense in a good way.

Finish: The peppery spicyness sort of glides over the transition and turns into a cloud of peppermint while the back of the palate still contains the ripe berries, the complex funkiness and the medicinal notes. It’s less sweet through the finish and the vanilla and toffee are barely noticable. The peatiness is now more vegetal and medicinal and less ashy. The oakiness is found in the background but it’s overrun by the intensity of the other flavours for a long time. When it shows up it mixes with the residual peat notes and gives a toasted impression. This is a fantastic whisky in every way. It’s a peat monster in a nice fancy suit.

Additional information
This whisky was distilled in 2008 with a PPM value of 167. It was aged in a mix of first fill ex-port pipes (37 %), first fill ex-cognac casks (31 %), second fill ex-bourbon barrels (20 %) and lastly, spirit aged in first fill ex-bourbon barrels, then in virgin oak casks and then ex-American whiskey casks (12 %) . It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.