Food & Drink

Review: Bruichladdich Octomore 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3

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Octomore — the self-proclaimed world’s peatiest whisky — is again for spherical 12, this time with a twist. Whereas the “x.2” launch is normally a duty-free launch, Octomore 12.2 is offered for the primary time usually retail. Particulars from the distillery:

This twelfth collection of Octomore returns to discover a carefully balanced, tender smoke on this ‘world’s most closely peated whisky collection’. The .1 within the collection acts as our base and our management, a springboard for brand new domains of discovery. Our .2 affords an alternate maturation, this time with a sublimely balanced ex-Sauternes profile. Lastly, the .3 completes the discharge of the 12’s, the place the terroir of our Islay grown barley meets sherry maturation for the primary time in historical past.

We’ll get into the weeds of manufacturing a bit additional into the evaluate. In the meantime, know that Octomore additionally makes an awesome barbecue sauce ingredient!

Bruichladdich Octomore 12.1 – 5 years in bourbon barrels, as was the case with 11.1, and a slightly low 130.8ppm of phenols. As promised by the distillery, that is certainly a really tender expression for Octomore, amply peaty however distant, the peat fireplace burning miles away slightly than proper beneath your nostril. The mellow whisky smolders on the nostril, providing an Octo-classic notice of lemon curd, then vanilla and cream soda. The palate is comparable, a creamy, virtually buttery concoction that’s flippantly briny, reasonably smoky, and enduringly fruity, once more with lemon — smoky lemon — lingering on the end. These on the lookout for an in-your-face peat expertise received’t gravitate to 12.1, however for these wishing a extra delicate night with Octomore, it’s value a glance. 118.8 proof. B / $250 

Bruichladdich Octomore 12.2 – 3 1/2 years in bourbon barrels, then 18 months in Sauternes casks. 129.7ppm. 18 months in candy dessert wine casks on high of Octomore? How can it miss? Nicely, with the 12.x collection, the bottom spirit might have introduced a problem: A tender, candy base, completed with a tender, candy wine provides us… nicely, just a little extra of the identical. 12.2 is considerably juicier and extra honeyed on each nostril and palate, with a slight natural kick rising with time on the tongue, however the general building feels remarkably acquainted. Layers of smoke waft again in because the end arrives, although right here issues really feel a bit unbalanced and barely saccharine, virtually gummy because the whisky’s tenacious grip on the tongue endures. 114.6 proof. B+ / $350

Bruichladdich Octomore 12.3 – Distilled in 2015 from the 2014 harvest of 100% Octomore Farm-grown Concerto barley, then 5 years in bourbon barrels — once more a reprise of 11.3. An especially low 118.1 ppm. This expression has a a lot decrease ppm than the equally aged 12.1, but on the palate it comes throughout rather more like a “traditional” Octomore, with a dense peatiness that weighs the whisky down a bit — although not inappropriately, by the by. Notes of blended flowers and barbecued beef give the smoky nostril a extra typical, “massive peat” character, with a lot of the identical enduring on the palate. Ashy and dense, stone fruit and baked apples lingering beneath a traditional seaside bonfire, this arrives with a a lot totally different influence than 12.1, although it’s nothing I’d describe as notably nuanced. Calmly salty with distinct notes of iodine on the chewy, smoky — and slightly sizzling — end, it’s a traditional palate-killer of a whisky that showcases what Islay is basically product of. 124.2 proof. B+ / $362

bruichladdich.com

Bruichladdich Octomore 12.1

$250

Score


8.0/10

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