Review: #257: Octomore 8.3

Islay - 5 - NCF - NCA - $190 - 53%

  
Octomore is Bruichladdich's heavily peated, super young, cask strength line.  The propaganda from Bruichladdich follows. Malting the this Octomore grain produced results that were unprecedented, the readings came back at 309.1ppm. Following a carefully controlled trickle distillation, Octomore 08.3 was matured in 56% first fill Bourbon casks, the remaining in ex-Paulliac, Ventoux, Rhone and Burgundy casks  

Color - Deep gold

Nose - Ripe apples and diesel, honey, caramel, tar, mossy fishing nets, stone fruit, hints of banana
Palate - Caramel, apples, anchovies

Finish - Medium - A touch hot - Caramel, saline, iodine, bonfires, nag champa, hints of red fruit

Overall - 6 - This one feels a bit off profile for Octomore. I got some apples in there but I am missing the big ripe fruit that I have come to expect from these releases.  It is more caramely and peaty than fruity and peaty.  I just don't feel this flavor combination balances as well.  While not a dud of a release, it is not worth the price tag in my opinion.  

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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 0.92

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16