Octomore 2011 Masterclass 08.3 Islay Barley 5 yo

 

 

 

61,2°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill Bourbon Casks, Ex-Pauillac, Ventoux, Rhôme and Burgundy Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 309,1 ppm

 

 

 

The third version of the 8th Octomore Batch is the most peated whisky ever. Due to a windy and rainy autumn in 2010, the barley harvest at Octomore Farm was less than glorious, with only a small proportion escaping hungry geese and wild deer. And because the volume of grain was smaller, it retained a higher concentration of peat, giving this surprising result: 309.1 ppm. However, it should not be forgotten that the interest of Octomore does not only lie in the peat, here we also have a beautiful maturation in French wine casks, for a proportion of 44% of the casks, the remaining 56% having aged in first fill Bourbon. 18,000 bottles went on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A surge of peat. Like a tidal wave, it floods the nostrils. Pure peat, not really smoky or marine, just a little vegetal. It's a blast, an earthquake. But very quickly, vinous fragrances settle in. And it's as if the peat is slipping away, to bring out a sweet, fruity wine, with hints of icing sugar, mirabelle plum, greengage, lemon pulp, lychee, pineapple and grapefruit. Coal and soot can be detected in the background, and the peat returns, even more violently. With the addition of water, the flavour comes into its own, with a hint of iodine, something earthy and cereal-like, adding to the pastry cream, the genoise and the fruits. Crunchy honey biscuits. Sourdough bread. Warm crumb. On the palate, very slight astringent acidity, then it's suave, and the spices take hold, cumin, pepper, paprika, curry, saffron. Tomato, peach, melon, red berries. Very long finish, on mango, then spices, finally wood, very sparkling, cola, ends on dry earth, a trail of charcoal, pinch of fine salt, chocolate milk. Apricot, persimmon.

 

In Short, 

The peat is important, even invasive, but it fades after a while to give way to wonderful vinous and fruity fragrances. This is one of the best Octomores for my taste, perhaps the best of the . 3 series, a rigorous comparison should be made one day. Unfortunately the price has gone completely mad, I wish I could have bought a bottle, but they are now reserved for millionaires.

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Jimmy Page & Robert Plant - Kashmir