Octomore 2009 Edition 06.3 5 yo

 

 

 

64°

Distillery : Bruichladdich

Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2014

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 258 ppm

 

 

 

The 3rd version of Octomore's 6th Batch is also the very first to be made entirely on Islay, from harvest to bottling (that said, I believe the malting is done on the main British island). Peated at 258 ppm, it was the most peated whisky of all time at the time, but this record was beaten two years later by Octomore 08.3. It should be noted, however, that the peat is not as high as that in Octomore. Aged exclusively in Bourbon casks, it highlights the purity of the distillate and the specific characteristics of Islay barley. 18,000 bottles have been released.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The pine forest on a September evening. It's a bit cool, which is why you can smell iodine. Eucalyptus leaf split in two. And now it's the tide, the kelp, the foam. Some seaweed. Coarse salt. Dense earth, thick roots, chalky, slightly muddy. A touch of ether and camphor. Then it softens. Resin, fresh bark, just torn from the trunk. Dried fruits, figs, grapes, bananas. With the addition of water, the fruits are slightly more intense, but so is the ether. Crushed yellow plums, slightly fermented. Bandages, disinfectant. At the end it becomes grassy. Fresh chicory. On the palate, still very woody, thorny, spicy, pepper on the tip of the tongue, a dash of vanilla and gravel, pine cone, hazelnut. The finish is hard to recover from, sweeping you away like a violent tidal wave, with tart tatin sprinkled with vanilla in retro-olfaction. Green chilli, braised peppers. Mirabelles. Cloves.

 

In Short, 

This is one of the very best Octomore of the 3rd series. The quality of the distillate is not distracted by superfluous wine casks. The addition of Islay barley gives the distillate a real identity. The result is a superb bottling whose only flaw is the price, which is as violent as the finish.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                            The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile

Octomore 2010 Edition 07.3 5 yo

 

 

 

63°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Bourbon Barrels and Ribera del Duero Wine Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2015 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 169 ppm

 

 

 

The 3rd version of Octomore's 7th Batch has been produced from barley grown at Octomore Farm, in the small parcel named Lorgba. This is the 2nd edition of Octomore Islay Barley, made entirely on the island, from harvest to bottling. The influence of Spanish wine casks is new compared to the 06.3. The number of bottles produced is not known, but should exceed 20,000.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The influence of the wine casks is immediately noticeable, with a satiny, resinous aroma of wood and white plum, slightly acidic apple and a hint of vanilla. With the addition of water, the fruits explode, white grapes, greengages and gooseberries. The smoke is behind, imposing itself slowly, until it becomes suffocating. It balances out beautifully after a while. Earth, cereals, more wheat than barley. A pinch of salt. Sandalwood, Armenian paper. Quite sweet at the end, rum baba, marzipan.
The palate is very peaty, marshy, spicy, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, but the fruits return fairly quickly, juicy mirabelles, conference pears. Very accomplished finish, long, slightly lemony, dust and dry earth, it's liquorish, a drop of caramel. Charcoal.

 

In Short, 

Very interesting, and of course excellent. The wine casks bring a more complex nose, but a sweeter palate than the 06.3. I can understand why some people were disappointed by this edition, as the wineiness makes it something much less radical and earthy. For me, it's a lovely experience, but not the best Octomore. The price means it should be reserved for enthusiasts and spenders.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          Thin Lizzy - Cowboy Song

Laphroaig Càirdeas 2020 Port & Wine Casks

 

 

 

52°

Distillery : Laphroaig - Islay

Charred ex-Bourbon Barrels and 2nd Fill ex-Ruby Port Barriques, Red Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered

Peated around 43 ppm

 

 

 

Since 2008, Laphroaig has been offering a new annual limited edition to coincide with Feis Ile, called "Càirdeas" (friendship in Gaelic), with a different maturation and finish each time. This edition has been finished twice, which is quite original. I would have liked to know how many bottles were produced, and especially which red wine casks were used. I was well informed about the price, however.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose has a certain fullness and freshness due to the red fruits. Gooseberry, blackcurrant, with a hint of iodine and camphor. Smoke and peat are present, and the grease on the barbecue sizzles. A discreet medicinal touch. Cranberry. More balanced with a few drops of water. The palate is quite sweet in the beginning, with a trace of vanilla, then the spices rise, quite strongly. Chilli, black pepper, ginger. It becomes warm and woody, with damsons and muscat grapes. Nutmeg, cloves. Very good finish, powerful, long, charred, but also fruity, with greengages. Very liquid honey, hazelnut.

 

In Short, 

I think it's the best Càirdeas I've ever tasted. The double finish adds a certain complexity. However, it's still too expensive for the quality of the product, which is a bit young and not quite balanced.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow

Raasay While We Wait

 

 

 

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Highlands 

Bourbon Casks, 1st and 2d Fill Tuscan Red Wine Finish

Independent Bottling 

By R&B Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Edited in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated from 20 to 25 ppm

The brand new distillery based on the island of Raasay opened in 2017. While it waits for its first single malt to be ready in 2020, it has released the aptly named While We Wait from another distillery in the Highlands. Rumour has it that this is Loch Lomond. The product, a blend of 45 ppm peat and non-peat, was aged for a few years in Bourbon casks, before finishing for 18 months in Tuscan wine casks made from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. There are five editions of While We Wait: the First, Second and Third Releases, then the 2018 Release, and finally the Last Orders. The sample I drank was not from any of these editions, but from a 20cl bottle sold exclusively at the distillery from 2018.

Let's Taste It : 

Quite astringent peat combined with apricot jam. Some dried fruits, prunes, dates, figs. Spices: nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon. It lacks a bit of fullness, to be honest, but it's not bad. A touch of citrus, lemon and grapefruit. Iodine. Notes of vanilla and honey. After a while there's a precarious balance between bourbon, peat and apricot.
On the palate, it's suave at first, a good slice of vanilla, then the acidity takes over. It's acidic and spicy at the same time, with chilli, pepper and ginger. The finish is fairly aggressive, charcoal, quite long, with wood and marzipan in retro-olfaction. Italian white grape, a touch of gooseberry.

In Short, 

The nose lacks a little breadth, but it's still quite good, and the finish is sufficiently long and nuanced. On the palate, however, I found it failing, unbalanced and even a little unpleasant. The marketing department claims that this is a representative product of what the distillery wants to do. We can only pray that this is not the case.

Score : 82

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Ken Hensley - Lady in Black

Laphroaig 10 yo Cask Strength Batch 003

 

 

 

55,3°

Distillery : Laphroaig - Islay

Seasoned and Charred Bourbon Barrels 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2011

Unchillfiltered, Cask Strength

Peated around 43 ppm

 

 

 

In 2009, Laphroaig decided to release an annual cask strength edition of its 10 Year Old. This Batch, bottled in January 2011, is the third and reputed to be one of the best.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

First of all, big smoky peat. Light vanilla, followed by bitumen and nails. Gravel, asphalt. Pastry cream mixed with fuel oil. Camphor, disinfectant. Dust, cigarette ash. Who knocked over the ashtray? Chlorine, iodine, and peat, which seems to crush everything in its path. Nice fullness after the addition of water. It becomes fruitier, with some juicy yellow plums. I feel like I'm tasting an ash cake. Like drowning in a pool of ash. At the same time, it's very sweet and quite well balanced. Gradually, the fruit takes over, white grapes, mirabelles, greengages, tending towards pineapple and Spanish melon. Then tar and gas oil return.
Very intense peat on the palate. A few vinous and honeyed hints, then the spices rise, chilli, clove. Surprisingly, I really do have the sensation of ash on my tongue. The rest is warm and malty. The finish is violent at first, then softer, very long, resinous, woody, young, fresh wood that has just been cut. An ounce of fruit to finish, but it's a little acidic. A slightly hard pear. Burnt wood.
 

In Short, 

This ultra-ashy and peaty whisky is a real uppercut. It lives up to its reputation, if you ask me. That said, it should be reserved for connoisseurs, as non-experts could be left traumatised. This is a product that should be sought out if you have the means and are passionate about it, but I would have appreciated a little more complexity.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Rowland S. Howard - Pop Crimes

Longrow 2007 Society Bottling 11 yo

 

 

 

56,9°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown 

Refill Re-Charred Sherry Butts 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

Since 2004, the Springbank Society has been offering bottlings exclusively to its members. It costs £50 to join the club, and membership is for life, so there shouldn't be any major problems getting in. However, even with membership, it's not easy to find bottles that the public will snatch up, and which will then feed the auction sites. Here we have an 11-year-old Longrow, aged in Sherry casks and produced in 2250 bottles.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Candied vanilla, coconut glaze, with light iodine and earthy peat adding depth. It's both very simple and wonderful. Some fruits, mirabelles, yellow plums, white grapes. Bay leaves stuffed with beef. Provençal herbs. On the palate, it's clean, neat, deep vanilla and some spices. Nutmeg and a touch of pepper spread gradually. Saffron, cinnamon and finally the fruits come through. Quite a long, controlled finish, on charcoal and lemon, woody. Chestnut, walnut, sweet potatoes.

In Short, 

An excellent, old-fashioned bottling, very balanced despite the enterprising peat. Very good work. A must if you can afford it.

Score : 90

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Sean Rowe - To Leave Something Behind

Springbank 2009 Local Barley 9 yo

 

 

 

57,7°

Distillery ; Springbank - Campbeltown

80% Bourbon and 20% Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm 

The first Springbank Local Barley whiskies likely appeared in the 1980s. At the time, these were very old whiskies, between 20 and 36 years old, sold in single casks in a few hundreds bottles per batch. To be reserved for a few connoisseurs. These exclusive bottlings more or less ceased in the 2000s. But it was in 2016 that the concept re-emerged. The Local Barley would no longer be Single Cask, and they would be younger, from 8 to 16 years old. A new edition would be released every year. It is believed that Bruichladdich created the concept of terroir for whisky with Islay Barley, but Springbank had done it before. However, it was Bruichladdich's success that prompted them to resurrect the range. The barley used for these bottlings is grown at Aros Farm, 3 km from the distillery. This Batch, the 4th in the Local Barley series, was produced in 9700 copies.

Let's Taste It : 

You plunge straight into the hay, your head in a haystack, the ends stinging your face. A rather dirty hay, which has been lying around for a long time in a rarely aerated stable. Behind, a hint of vanilla, an earthy country peat. A rather strong iodine, as if facing a rough sea, with the sea spray whipping around. All of a sudden it becomes very sweet, with condensed milk, coconut icing and Greek yoghurt. The custard next to the cattle feeder. And it's a great success. Milk chocolate, and even white chocolate, chantilly. The sherry is there to give a little depth, you can hardly feel it. Straw. The nose is on the side of a ruminating cow.
On the palate, candied vanilla, then spices, but these are as if macerated in the vanilla, the whole thing is quite syrupy, a delight. Black pepper, nutmeg, sage.
Very strong finish fragmentation grenade, it lasts a long time, with touches of vanilla, mirabelle, lime. Mint leaf.

 

In Short, 

Quite honestly, this is my favourite Springbank whisky so far. It's a very original whisky, in which the distillery's hallmarks come through completely, without breaking the harmony of the flavours. It's a real success. On the other hand, the public has not been deceived, and each new batch is quickly sold out and then resold at a prohibitive price.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Townes Van Zandt - Pancho & Lefty

Springbank 12 yo Cask Strength Batch 14

 

 

 

54,2°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

70% Sherry and 30% Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength 

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

In the spring of 2010, the very first Batch of Springbank 12 yo Cask Strength, aged entirely in sherry casks, arrived on the shelves of wine merchants. And now, eleven years later, we've reached the 21st batch. Needless to say, it has been a great success. This 14th Batch, bottled in 2017, is said to be the 5th to include bourbon casks in its blend. The number of bottles produced remains unknown.

Let's Taste It : 

Candied vanilla, coated in iodine and Guérande salt. Delicate, earthy, charred peat. Custard. Vanilla eclair, with icing of course. Coconut, papaya, passion fruit. Finally, the sherry shows its nose, but it took a long time. Quite vinous, grapey, blueberry and heather. Then the bourbon comes back, pastry cream, sea breeze with spray, finally a bit of stable, otherwise it wouldn't be Springbank. Lavender, honeysuckle. Gênoise. Icing sugar.
On the palate, the sweetness lingers, nuanced by a few spices that gradually take over. Toasted wood, charcoal, hazelnuts, beeswax. Finish in the same vein, more lemony, fairly long and explosive, sweet, a little earthy. Brown sugar.

 

In Short, 

It's obviously delicious, at a very reasonable price. The Batches are sometimes very different, the recent ones introducing the influence of wine casks (Burgundy and Port in particular). I'd be inclined to say that you should try them all, but as there are two a year, you have to choose. 

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood

Springbank 21 yo 2013 Batch 13/491

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown 

Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2013

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Towards the end of the 1980s, Springbank added a 21-year-old to its regular range. It was so successful that they were soon obliged to release it in limited editions, which seems to have been the case since 1998, with an edition aged entirely in sherry casks, which is still legendary today. The influence of the casks was subsequently diversified, while the alcohol content was kept at 46°, much to the regret of connoisseurs. This edition, which dates from 2013, is being sold in a quantity of 2,700, with the kitschy gold case that has been the talk of the town.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite rich and sweet, with apple crumble, tart tatin, sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar, and not forgetting the scoop of vanilla ice cream. It's obviously very woody. Raw sugar, orange blossom, gênoise, speculoos. Salty iodine, a mineral touch that cements the whole. A lemon zest. Ripe yellow peach, with dripping juice. Mountain honey, slightly spicy. Ethereal smoke, barely a whiff of steam. But it's ashy. Nice balance. Slightly hard greengages.
On the palate, the spices come first. The rest is fairly dry, even acidic, with a hint of lime and a nice fullness, but rather monochrome. It is greedy, though. Very woody and friendly. The finish is the same, citrusy and warm, but not very long. Lemon tart. Chestnut wood, varnished.
 

In Short, 

After a sumptuous nose, I have to admit that I was disappointed by the rest. It's very good, of course, but you'd expect better from such a prestigious distillery. Especially as the price is astronomical. Perhaps there was something wrong with the sample? I'd have to try other versions. 

Note : 89 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :                                                    

   

                                                    Cream - Sunshine of Your Love 

BenRiach The Smoky Ten 10 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : The BenRiach - Speyside 

Bourbon Barrels, Jamaican Rum and Toasted Virgin Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt

Launched in 2020

Unchilllfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated from 20 to 25 ppm

In 2016, the Brown-Forman group, which founded the Jack Daniel's brand, bought three Scottish distilleries: The GlenDronach, Glenglassaugh and The BenRiach. For the third one, it meant a complete overhaul of the regular range, although it would take years for this to come to fruition, thanks to the new Master Blender, Rachel Barrie, recruited in 2017. From a completely new recipe, this Smoky Ten combines the depth of peat with the smoothness of rum casks.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fairly light country peat, with hints of vanilla, candied lemon and cane sugar. Cooked grapefruit, caramelised on the edges. Zest of blood orange. Artichoke heart. Hay, dried wheat in the background. The whole is earthy, dusty. Evanescent smoke. But it's still very sweet. On the palate, the acidity of lemon, the fruitiness of a yellow plum, mirabelle, and spices. Peanuts, white pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon. On the finish, the vanilla lemon comes through very elegantly, quite long, coconut glaze, ripe pineapple. Liquorice stick.

 

In Short, 

Despite being a little light on the palate, this new bottling is encouragingly satisfying. It has a real personality, an original imprint, more marked and better balanced than the Curiositas. You could try buying it to compare with Benromach 10 yo. 

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Huey Lewis & The News - I Want a New Drug

Bowmore 2001 Artist #7 Batch 2 Over 15 yo

 

 

 

56°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay 

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

In 2011, La Maison du Whisky teamed up with Signatory Vintage to launch the Artist range, an annual selection of 5 to 7 Single casks. For each batch, the label is designed by a renowned artist. In this case, a Bowmore over 15 years old limited to 275 copies, with a label designed by Lino di Vinci. This bottling is the second batch, the first being limited to 86 bottles and quickly sold out.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Light camphor, alcohol, salty freshness. Winey flavours, crushed plum, vanilla custard, orange blossom, with a sea breeze saturated with Iodine. Sand, foam, seaweed. Oysters. Knives. Sea spray on the face. At the same time, a touch of sweetness. Paris-brest, gênoise. Superb balance between iodine, vanilla and peat. Mineral fragrances. Rock, with glued shells. Heavy-scented flowers, lilac, jasmine, crocus, white rose. White grape, crushed mirabelle, menthol. Smoky fog. Lemon zest. Suave, spicy palate, rosewater, fried zucchini flower, icing sugar, spices less pungent than usual, deep, charred, earthy finish, on saffron and honeysuckle. Quite long.

 

In Short, 

Very pleasant and original, this bottling, with floral fragrances, a deep iodine flavour that doesn't detract from the fruits, and a few sweet treats. Of course, it has long since sold out, after reaching rock-bottom prices. To be reserved for the wealthiest connoisseurs.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          Steve Vai - Tender Surrender