This second edition of Octomore 10 Year Old was matured in 60% fresh bourbon casks and 40% casks that previously held Grenache Blanc wine. Made using 100% Scottish barley, it has a phenol level of 167 ppm. It spent an entire decade slumbering in P2, the ancient stone warehouse in the village of Port Charlotte, close to the western shore of Loch Indaal.
There’s a #LaddieBelgium tasting on Twitter tonight (19:00 CET) which will feature three 10yo expression: Octomore, Port Charlotte and Laddie Ten.
Octomore 10 yo 2005
(57,3%, OB 2016, second edition, 167 ppm, 18.000 btl.)
Nose: rather sophisticated. The heavy peat is mellowed by a raisin sweetness from the wine. Rich smoke mixed with apple compote, plum jam and lemons. Nice tobacco leaves. Honey and vanilla. Coastal notes in the background: iodine and salt.
Mouth: sweet and oily, with a surprisingly creamy, almost silky mouth feel. Coal embers, blackberry sweetness, chocolate and medicinal notes. Maritime smoke. Marzipan and citrus. Hints of bread. Salted caramel.
Finish: long, slowly moving from sweet tobacco to earthy notes, dry peat and burnt toast.
A rather sweet and spectacularly oily, thick version of Octomore. It’s not a subtle dram but it finds its own kind of balance. Around € 170.
Score: 87/100