Octomore 2018 Edition 15.3 Islay Barley The Impossible Equation 5 yo

 

 

 

61,3°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels and 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 307,2 ppm

 

 

 

This is the 10th Batch in the Octomore .3 series, and as such it, like its predecessors, has been made from barley grown at Octomore Farm on Islay, on the McTaggart's Field plot. The barley was harvested in 2017 and distilled in 2018. This time, the peat content is extremely high, and this is even the 2nd most peated whisky in the history of mankind, the first being the Octomore 08.3. Maturation is relatively straightforward, using Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Sherry Casks from Fernando de Castilla in Jerez, Spain.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Lightly woody apricot jam. Enticing smokiness, dry earth and cereals, baked apples, cinnamon. Pulpy fruit, grapes and plums, mashed banana and vanilla. Chalky peat in the background. Floral tones. Tourage butter, used to make croissants. On the palate, it's very sweet, rosewater, lychee juice, icing sugar, then the spices rise, cumin and pepper, steamy vanilla, Conference pear. Very long and explosive finish, apple crumble, custard, liquid caramel, hot resin. Onion bread. Mellow brioche. A little cream.

 

In Short, 

What I remember about this whisky is its incredible delicacy. The peat is fairly unobtrusive and perfectly integrated. As a result, the fruit stands out, apricot, cooked apples and, on the palate, pear. This is one of the great Octomores, the ones that surprise us every time we dip our lips into it. On the other hand, the price is even higher than usual, which made me hesitate to buy one. Where will this end?

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Youth Valley - Pegasus