Nose: quite a fruity nose, perhaps because the peat is slightly tempered. Wet oak, wet wool, coal smoke and some earthy notes. Behind this there are nectarines and hints of barbecued pineapple. Almonds again. Some hay. Nicely integrated and mature. The journey culminates in a sweet finish, where pastry and chocolate make a delightful appearance. Yet, in a captivating twist, bitter notes of rubbery smoke and spice emerge, leaving a lasting impression that lingers on your palate. Octomore 11.1, 11.3 and the 10 Year (2020) (image via Bruichladdich) Tasting Notes: Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 11.1 We deliver to a number of international destinations including the USA. Please use the 'Change Location' link above for an estimate in your local currency or find out more about international delivery

Named after a farm that once housed a distillery of its own on the hillside above Port Charlotte on the isle of Islay, this super-heavily peated whisky was first distilled on the 23rd of September 2002. The first bottling arrived in 2008, malted to a peating level of 80.5 ppm. By the 2nd edition, it had reached 140 ppm. The 6th and 7th achieved 258 ppm and the 08.3 bottling came in at a whopping 309.1 ppm. Without prejudice to the section Liability below, the Service may be temporarily unavailable during maintenance, updates, etc. We shall make reasonable efforts to inform you of any unavailability due to maintenance or updates. Taste: The salinity translates to the oily palate. There’s a good amount of peat, slightly medicinal even. A touch of rubber and bitter lemon peel, although there’s an inherent sweetness that balances things a bit. Golden syrup? Yes, golden syrup. The latest batch of Octomore seems to have dialled down the intensity of the experience. In its place we get a harmonious balance between grain, peat and wood. The problem is, the resulting spirit doesn’t really feel like Octomore, to me. The depth I’ve come to expect is strangely absent and the spirit unusually lightweight. Despite its high strength, it didn’t take water particularly well, instead it became even more delicate on the palate.The Octomore 11 series for 2020, however, ranges from 136.9 PPM to 194 PPM. The key with the recent Octomore expressions is the barley itself. Yes, we know Bruichladdich loves to play with terroir. 28 acres of barley were planted on Islay two miles from the distillery. The harvest is from 2013, and unlike barley grown on the Scottish mainland, Islay grown barley is much more dramatically exposed to the elements. Nose: Vanilla and marzipan with beach pebbles, crème brûlée and fudge. Somewhat herbal at times (rosemary), and the charred lemon peel is certainly a nice touch. Nice salinity too, but also notes of wood smoke and seaweed.

The 10.1 and the 10.3 are the most similar entrants. Both fully matured in ex-bourbon, the latter has a little more depth and complexity. Blah blah, Bruichladdich review number four thousand and sixty is imminent. If you don’t know my views, my discussions, my rambles and, because it’s the internet, my vast number of opinions on Bruichladdich, just hit up the Bruichladdich tag and look through the old posts, making sure to ignore anything Jason says (often a good rule in general, but specifically for Bruichladdich distillery).

Conclusion

Very different for an Octomore, and it's a different whisky to the other _.3 bottlings. Actually it's in a totally different realm of existence to the previous Islay barley bottlings. But variety is the spice of life after all, and of course 10.3 deserves its spot in the line-up. The Octomore 10.1 expression, therefore, is an example of a very modest approach to whisky-making. What would happen if you take Scottish barley, distill it, and have it mature on ex- American oak casks for 5years? Well, you get an expression which is a benchmark. It's simple. It's very tasty. It's salty, smoky (duh), and blessed with a pleasant oily texture. There is no burning sensation in the mouth. Instead, there is a gentle simmer. It's a cleanser of the mouth lining. Dismissing the numbers, the makers ask even the most knowledgeable to forget everything they think they know and experience the liquid for themselves.” Nose: Both light & fresh, and peaty & powerful. Reminds me very much of a Kilchoman 100% Islay bottling, actually! And that's not been the case with any other Octomore. Freshly steeped malt, fresh hay, buttery pastry, lemon zest and creamy vanilla. Fizzy lemonade and a light, soft, fresh, dry earthy peatiness with a hint of ashy smoke underneath.