Octomore 5 Year Old Edition 06.1 Scottish Barley

Hot steady sweet smoke loaded oily fruit arrival develops dry citrus, spicy vanilla middle and a long rich thick balanced finish.

This is another release from Octomore featuring 100% Scottish barley and 167ppm peat! Thats about the peatiest in the world

• Nose: mellow creamy leather, with some cheddar and smoked ham, there is also a grassy barnyard aroma some heather honey, herbal notes and sea spray.

• Pallet: seaside entry, salty spice, smoked ham, barley sugars, boiled sweets and roasted nuts.

• Finish: smoked honey, sooty ash, very balanced with growing smoke.

• Mark neat – 8.1

Previously ive reviewed an octomore (connosr.com/reviews/bruichladdich/…) and thoroughly enjoyed it. This one isnt bad, its suprisingly delicate hence no water. But there is no wow factor nothing outrageous, its a bit yeah delicate.

Octomore is an experimental Bruichladdich. Every year they present this limited edition heavily peated whisky in iconic black bottles. The two latest batches were boasting a phenol level of 167 ppm.

Edition number 6 is the first one that carries the new tag line “Scottish Barley”. It exists of three different expressions: the standard 6.1 batch matured in ex-bourbon casks. The 6.2 matured in former cognac casks made from Limousin oak and is destined for Travel Retail. And lastly a 6.3 Islay barley batch that has not yet been bottled.

Tasting notes

Color: A light yellow colour with a thin golden rim. A heap of straw in the spring sunlight. The whisky sticks to your glass like other (young) Bruichladdichs. It is deliciously thick, fat and slow.

Nose: Let's start with an understatement. The peat smoke is everywhere. Not that you would expect anything else from a malt presenting itself as “Super Heavily Peated”. And yet, this Octomore is surprisingly soft on the nose. And instantly, almost Lagavullian, recognizable.

A power nap reveals its fruity and salty qualities. Ripe prunes and cherries. A sea breeze over a rocky beach. Lapsang Souchong sweetened with honey. And a visit to your local cheese shop. You cannot decide which blue cheese you want to taste: Shropshire, Roquefort, Gorgonzola. They all smell and look delicious.

Taste: The peaty tempest rages on in the mouth. Once things get a little quieter, you'll discover a fruity sweetness. Mainly prunes and juicy red apples. The flavours are nicely complemented by loafs of bread. Rye bread and nut bread.

Water transforms this peaty beast into a delicious oatmeal porridge, sweetened with vanilla sugar.

Finish: The finish is quite long, dry and a little sweet. Crispy bacon served with a honey sauce.

Conclusion: Octomore has a reputation to maintain and lives up to it. This is no whisky for starters. If you aren't fond of Ardbeg, steer clear of Octo! This slightly brutal youngster is a real treat for peat lovers. Young aggressive and still refined enough. Lovely complex.

This is yet another whisky that could convince me to break through my psychological € 100 barrier. You easily spot the black metal tubes at specialist liquor stores. Prices vary somewhere between € 115 and € 125.

I've read lots of great reviews on Octomore and now that I have one in captivity must report that you are all...absolutely right. As if the bottle isn't exciting enough. It's a work of art and feels very special.

I expected to be over powered with smoke and have my taste buds overwhelmed with the golden spirit but was amazed by what is really a gentle, but sophisticated, giant of a malt. The smoke is subtle but very definite but not in a Laphroaig way.

The nose is Smokey caramel and toasted almonds in sticky toffee. There is a tang of new patent leather shoes and then it dissolves to over ripe mandarins and plums. I made notes during several 'visits' over a few days and found the nose just became richer and warmer each time. It's so complex I could almost carve the various elements and enjoy them individually.

The palate was the big surprise. It's big up front and very rich with warm leather and beautiful smoke. I imagined burnt salty driftwood. It fills the mouth with flavour and it's like the sensation from sherbet or the space food you buy at Woollies when you're a kid. A sudden intense burst that slowly dissolves to an unexpected sweetness. Spicy lemon butter, currants and poached strawberries in Cointreau.

The next day....I could still taste a little smoke and it was a pleasant reminder of this absolutely stunning Whisky. The bottle was sent down under from the UK and arrived 3 days after the order was placed - eWhisky!

Well.... Having tried a couple of the expressions of Octomore in the past at a rather nice whisky bar, I finally took the plunge and bought my. Own bottle. I bought the latest release, the 6.1. This is peated to 167 ppm, and comes in the most exquisitely designed packaging.

Right. Let's cut to the chase.

I was expecting aggressive Bonfire smoke and deep, meaty peat. What I had forgotten, however was the wonderful lightness and delicacy which also comes across.

Nose Malt, leather, perhaps some jeyes fluid, and a little medicinal... Something sweet also, maybe a little melon. Floating above all of this is almost a slight cheese aroma, and then of course the peat smoke... Not the uppercut to the face you would expect. But it's definitely there.

Palate This stuff just fills the mouth. Fills every crevice. Almost creamy, thick. A real joy to tease across your tongue. This time smoky, peaty, bonfire. Not as aggressive again as you may expect, but wow. Its definitely powerful. Aside from that though, it's deceptively delicate. There are some really light, almost floral notes. Maybe a little fruit too. Hard to describe. The peat is definitely the overwhelming flavour. My palate may not be developed enough to identify the other flavours. A real joy tho. Absolutely incredible. We've just had a thunderstorm here.... And I can tell you, the experience of relaxing with this whisky, watching the downpour, and the lightning... Amazing.

Finish. Long. What do you expect? Tongue coated with wave after wave of peat. Lovely.