This is the latest batch of Octomore bottlings. Three five-year-olds, distilled in 2012 and heavily peated of course. A fourth 09.4 (10 Years Old) will be added in January 2019.
The series is called Dialogos, as Bruichladdich wants us to start a dialogue about terroir, wood influence, barley and so on. In any case we can only applaud the degree of transparency: every tiny detail about these whiskies are available on the website.
Octomore 09.1 is five years old, 156 ppm, made from Scottish grown Concerto barley and matured full-term in American bourbon casks, mainly Jim Beam and Jack Daniels.
Octomore 09.1 ‘Dialogos’ 5 yo 2012
(59,1%, OB 2018, 42.000 btl.)
Nose: fairly clean, neutral, even a bit light. Fresh pine wood, hints of mezcal, with lots of cold ashes and malty notes. This focused nature makes it rather elegant but also a bit spirity. Some grasses and unripe banana in the background.
Mouth: much wider, with a deep, earthy smokiness but also a nicely velvety texture. Still quite young and raw, close to the malt. Just a hint of rubber boots, oak char, walnuts and sweet lemons. Plenty of aniseed as well.
Finish: the charred oak lingers and shows its peppery, slightly acrid side, as well as some coastal notes.
Not bad, but not the bold powerhouse we’ve come to expect. It’s quite narrow and limited and can’t hide its youth. Currently discounted at Master of Malt.
Score: 83/100
Octomore 09.2 is the same batch: five years old and 156 ppm. It was matured in American oak casks for four years and then re-casked into French oak casks from the appellation Margaux.
Octomore 09.2 ‘Dialogos’ 5 yo 2012
(58,2%, OB 2018, travel retail, 12.000 btl.)
Nose: clearly influenced by the wine. Lots of blackcurrants, fresh red plums, raspberries, old roses too. Sweet but with a balsamic touch. Earthy smoke and roast meat complement the fruits nicely, even with the (light) hints of gunpowder.
Mouth: quite vinous again, which means red fruits in a nicely jammy way but also this slightly tannic, bitter edge. Espresso, sour cherries, cranberries, pipe tobacco. Nutmeg, black pepper and liquorice. Peat in a secondary role here.
Finish: long, on sour fruits, spices and smoke.
Quite heavy on the red wine notes. Some would argue this is what is needed to balance the heavy peat, but somehow it also holds me back in my appreciation, especially with the sulphury traces. Only in travel retail (for now?).
Score: 86/100
Octomore 09.3 is ‘only’ 133 ppm and made with Islay barley from the Octomore farm, distilled and filled into 134 casks, predominantly second-fill. Some where first-fill American oak, some third fill virgin oak, as well as some second-fill Rivesaltes, Syrah and ex-bourbon.
Octomore 09.3 ‘Dialogos’ 5 yo 2012
(62,9%, OB 2018, 18.000 btl.)
Nose: something herbal right from the start. I’m thinking heather but also old wood and dusty cellars. Love that. Light metallic aromas (silver polish), engine oils, something rubbery too. Hints of bread and fresh grass. Perhaps the most medicinal of the trio as well. Takes water well.
Mouth: rather thick and waxy, almost an extra heavy Brora style in a way. Walnuts, traces of sweet mustard. Clean peat smoke, Lapsang tea with a dollop of floral honey and gentle lemon. Dry herbal notes again. A pinch of salt. Very unmodern really.
Finish: not as long as the others, but clean, with heathery smoky and a touch of salted chocolate.
This is a nice complex ‘Highlands’ style within the Octomore spectrum, especially with the herbs, coastal and waxy notes. Not the easiest of the trio perhaps, but my favourite nonetheless. Cheapest I’ve found is from The Whisky Barrel at the moment.
Score: 90/100