Review #206: Bruichladdich Octomore 7.1

Islay - 5 - NCF - NCA - $180 - 59.5

Octomore 7.1 was made from barley from mainland Scotland.  It is aged in american oak and peated to 208 ppm.  

Color - Deep Copper - pretty dark for five years, may have some sherry or wine finishes in there.  

Nose - Apple, lemon, wood smoke, raisins, peaches, lavender, honey - lots of white fruit and much lighter on the smoke than I would think.  

Palate - Sweetness, white fruit, honey, fireplace smoke, vanilla

Finish - Long - Seas spray, wood smoke, honey, touch of raw oak, vanilla

Overall - 6 - This was surprisingly light on the smoke.  Not the "Fuck you, I'm peat" that I would have expected from an Octomore.  It is loaded with sweetness throughout.  I found the dram rather enjoyable but it was a different than anticipated.  I don't think I would chose this out of the Octomore's I have had.  I enjoyed it more than 8.1 but less than 7.3 and 8.3.  

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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