58,1°
Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay
Oloroso Sherry and Bordeaux Wine Casks, Madeira and Moscatel Finish
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Malt
Bottled in 2025
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength
Peated around 101,4 ppm
The 16th batch of Octomore has a rather complicated second version: aged in Oloroso sherry and Bordeaux wine casks, it was then finished for a year in Madeira and Moscatel wine casks. The result is bound to be at least a little fruity. The barley used is Concerto from mainland Scotland.
Let's Taste It :
Suffocating, intoxicating, blinding smoke. Quite dry, full of soot and charcoal, thick, almost solid. Iodine and limestone, salt deposits, stalactites. And behind that, raspberries, a few strawberries, cranberry jam. At the very bottom, crispy cereals, muesli, puffed rice. Pastry cream, rustic woodiness, brown sugar. On the palate, it is silky, light, evanescent, a bubble of icing sugar on a honey and walnut cake, then intense spices, cumin, black pepper, chilli. Very slight touch of bitterness. Extremely violent and long finish, cola, damp leather, salt dough, charcoal nuggets, apricot juice, dates, egg cream, brewer's yeast, basalt and granite rocks.
In Short,
Octomore still has that magical, contrasting character, between fruit, subtlety and enormous smoke, like a tidal wave. However, this time, the balance is less effective. You can smell the alcohol on the nose, and the spices are very strong on the palate. So I'm a little disappointed, but I'm still giving it a very good rating, because all of this is made up for by the totally incredible finish, which is as long as it is complex and devastating. In short, it's not as good as usual, but it's still a success. Obviously, the price is very high, but what is money after all?
Score : 90
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Pile - Bouncing in Blue
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