Advent 2022 #14 - Octomore 10.1

Always happy to try an Octomore. I’ve loved a couple but for the most part find I’m happy with a sample rather than a bottle. Let’s see if this is one I’ll have to seek out.

Octomore 10.1, Islay Single Malt, 59.8% ABV

Minutia: Distilled in 2013 and matured for 5 years in 1st-fill American white oak casks. Reviewed blind, neat in an opaque glencairn.

Color: Jonquil, ripe corn; 0.4.

Nose: Smoke, ash, a bit medicinal. Tar, tobacco, leather. Bubblegum.

Taste: Smoke, heat/pepper.

Finish: Musty, earthy, pepper. Long.

Guess: Laphroaig 1815

I’m not surprised given the tar and leather that I associate with Octomore which have made me guess Octomores as Laphroaigs a handful of times by now. A very solid dram. The nose is the star, and in comparison the palate is almost not worth a look. It is, but any expression would have a hard time living up to it after the nose. The bubblegum note was a surprise and a delight even though I don’t go for flavors like that anymore. Beyond that, it feels boilerplate Octomore.

Score: 90

Thanks for reading!