Bruichladdich 08.1 Octomore

THE SPIRIT OF OCTOMORE HAS BEEN DEFYING LOGIC FOR OVER FIFTEEN YEARS. THE WHAT IF MOMENT THAT ONCE SEEMED ALMOST ABSURD HAS PROGRESSIVELY MORPHED INTO SOMETHING ENDLESSLY ALLURING. NOW, SUDDENLY, THERE ARE EIGHT. Led by the structural brilliance of 08.1, we can pause at this symbolic moment to enjoy a single malt masterclass. The experimental ethos, the muscular quality, is still very much to the fore, but there is enlightenment now, a sure-footed confidence. 08.1 is the necessary benchmark, the launch pad from which others can only follow. 08.1 reveals the astonishing subtlety of our phenolic universe, leading us along a pathway into a world like no other. The Octomore 08.1 edition is: 167 ppm Distilled in 2008 using 100% Scottish barley, from 2007 harvest 100% matured in first fill american oak casks, including Buffalo Trace, Clermont Springs, Heaven Hill & Jack Daniels 42,000 btls only.

Tasting Notes:

CHARACTER: Refined, confident, a little extra age has tempered some of the vitality but this dram has gained a classic, timeless feel.

AROMA: Initially smoke, tar, peat ash hint of muddiness/wet peat moss. Candied orange, pepper, chocolate, macaroon, vanilla fudge and lemon meringue pie.

TASTE: Liquid gold, so and delicate texture from slow distillation. Superb fruit/smoke combination. On the lips there is so kiss of salt spray, ozone fresh. Sweet oak gives vanilla, fudge, marzipan and walnut. Melon and citrus come through on a floral breeze. Many layered there is a lot to find in this Octomore.

FINISH: Dry peat smoke, iodine and oak sweetness combine. Hints of mint and bog myrtle fade with the lingering peat smoke, as ever, the last flavour to go.

COLOUR” Winter sun, crisp and bright.