Bruichladdich Octomore 4.1 5yo
Peat. More peat. And some peat.
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aReview by @albindamberg
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall95
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- Brand: Bruichladdich
- Type: Scotch
- Region: Islay
- ABV: 62.5%
I didn't really expect to lay my hand on one of the 60 bottles of Bruichladdichs new peat monster Octomore 4.1 since only 60 bottles was released to Swedens lesser populated towns. But I did.
When you open a new bottle of Octomore 4.1 you really think there's a fire going on straight under your nose. It's like a boat burning in the sun with new tar all over it. It's like drinking a glass of fire which explodes in your mouth.
The first thing that surprised you when you've filled a (Glencairn) glass of Bruichladdichs newest peat monster is that the colour is of such lightness. It's almost that there's no traditional whisky colour at all. Only five years matured but still so grown up.
When you put your nose down the glass after you've rolled it around you feel an overwhelming scent. It goes straight up to your head and blows you like a hard fist right between the eyes. You can smell the spirit of the whisky and the strong, strong ABV.
The taste is simply mind-blowing. There's really no other whisky on the market that tastes like the Octomore 4.1. It burns your tongue, the fire totally explodes and travels from the back of your mouth and rolls slowly, burning everything down in it's way, almost the whole way to your teeth. You find yourself troubled just breathing. Your throat have a furious battle just to survive.
But you still want more. But you also want to survive the most interesting whisky experience you've had in your life. So you take it slow, just a little sip at a time.
The taste is surprisingly light, much like the other peat monsters from Islay.
The Octomore 4.1 will be standing in my cabinet for a very long time, just to be celebrated at wisely choosen occasions. I won't say that it's the best whisky as I've ever tasted, absolotely not the most balanced, not the most valuable. But definitely the most shocking and brave dram of them all.
Two great thumbs up, and for gods sake, if you stumble upon a bottle, don't just stare at it. Buy it.
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Great review!! Your descriptions of the overwhelming nature of this whisky seem very similar to what I have experienced with the rye whiskey equivalent to this peat/smoke monster, Old Potrero 18th Century Style Rye Whiskey. This is one that just consumes your senses with the flavours and aromas of pure rye. I have always stated (several times on this forum alone...and I haven't even done a review yet!) that is akin to drinking a grain silo.
Like you said, these whiskies aren't there for balance, but they more than succeed for the (high quality) shock value.