I was lucky enough to be able to snag one of only 6000 bottles issued of the Octomore. Clocking in at approximately $200, it ain't cheap, but it's a piece of history. It also sold out before it even hit the shelves.
Octomore contains 131 ppm (parts per million) phenol, making it the world's most heavily peated whisky. According to the distillery, it's three times more peated than any other whisky on the market. Although, that's obviously not taking into account the new Ardbeg supernova, which is calculated to be 100 ppm.
Overall, I was really impressed with how delicate the peating was. I was expecting to be punched in the face with an ashtray full of spent churchills, but instead, the smoke gently played on the tongue and married well with the honeyed sweetness that is characteristic of it's young age. Don't get me wrong, it's a lot of smoke. But it's not overwhelming. Unlike the sharpness of the smoke from something like the Lagavulin 16, this whisky has much more depth.
It's invigorating, with lots of vanilla and pear competing (or should I say playing nice) with the tar and cigar smoke. The mouth feel is velvety, and the finish lasts forever. Overall, this is a wonderful whisky. Much more appealing than I'd imagined it would be. I'm hoping to be a contender to get a bottle when they release the 10 year and 15 year editions.
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