60,4°
Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay
2d Fill Monbazillac Cask
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Cask
Bottled in 2024
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength
Peated around 156 ppm
Since last year, a series of Octomore Single Cask releases has been flooding the markets, and each one is reserved for a specific country. Germany has already had two, whilst France has yet to receive any. There are releases for Japan, Taiwan and the United Kingdom, one for Global Travel Retail, and one for the distillery’s Visitor Centre on Islay. This one appears to be the very first to be released, launched in Germany in April 2025. It has been matured for 11 years in a second-fill Monbazillac cask, a sweet white wine from the south of France. 294 bottles are being released. I don’t usually label Octomore releases as ‘Cask Strength’ anymore, as the distillery’s Brand Ambassador told me that Octomore whiskies are always slightly diluted. But this one does indeed appear to be Cask Strength – all the websites specify this – and such a high alcohol content after 11 years is truly remarkable.
Let's Taste It :
The wine influence is intense, candied white grapes, pineapple, cinnamon, caramelised apricots, Frécinette bananas, treacle. The peat is subtle for an Octomore, smoke rich in iodine and limestone, perfectly balanced. After a while, it becomes rich and pastry-like, yet still iodine-tinged, egg custard and royal jelly. Intense woodiness, as if torched. Warm wax, semi-salted butter, crème brûlée. Very light acidity, lemon Turkish delight. Then intense maritime notes, the tide, kelp, sea foam, fish scales. On the palate, it is pulpy, viscous, very mirabelle plums, very egg yolk, an abundance of spices, soaking syrup, vanilla extract, almonds and lychees, a hint of clove, aged pipe tobacco. An incredibly smooth and long finish, creamy and sandy, mountain honey, macerated dates, fresh figs, pressed apples. Drop of charcoal, brown sugar. Chinese nougat, hot sweetcorn, churned butter.
In Short,
I’m putting this straight onto my list of favourite Octomores, after the 04.2, the 08.3 and the 10-year-old Third Edition, but before the Friends of Bruichladdich (a quick thought for Derek Mather 😢). So, with this one, here are my top five favourite Octomores! This one’s palate is just a tiny bit below the top three, which are sublime. But it’s an exceptional Octomore, with a nose that’s constantly changing, shifting between the sweet, fruity influence of the cask, intense peat and maritime notes. The finish is magnificent too, the alcohol is incredibly well integrated, and it unfolds through multiple layers, it’s very long. The price, on the other hand, isn’t magnificent at all, especially now that it’s sold out almost everywhere. It’s far too much.
Score : 91
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Sleep Dealer - A Storm Was Gathering
No comments:
Post a Comment