Review #190: Bruichladdich Octomore 8.1

Islay - 8- NCF - NCA - $170 - 59.3%

Octomore is Bruichladdich's super heavy peated scotch. I did this one blind before but now I will go in with my eyes open.  I enjoyed when done blind, thought it was a young cask strength Ardbeg. 

The Octomore 08.1 edition is: 167 ppm and was distilled in 2008 using 100% Scottish barley, from 2007 harvest. 100% matured in first fill American oak casks, including Buffalo Trace, Clermont Springs, Four Roses, Heaven Hill & Jack Daniels. - Bruichladdich

Color - Old Gold

Nose - Peat - briny peat at first, honey and rock sugar, Tidal pools, iodine, fabric softener, vanilla

Palate - Diesel fuel, apples, pear, honey, vanilla, lady fingers

Finish - Long - Bonfire smoke, honey, iodine, tart apple, the diesel fades into smoke

Overall - 6 - I am enjoying this a lot more the second time around.  I am not sure if it was because I was in the mood for heavy, fuck you peat or if because I know what I am drinking.  I am able to get more out of the palate complexity out of the palate.  The sweetness and the peat balance each other out well.  I don't think I am ready to spend $170 on the bottle but it is very good.  

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.91

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16