Octomore 12.1

Nose - Sweet campfire smoke, lactic sweetness, cracked black pepper, lemon vanilla custard, sea salt (w/ water) Rounds everything out a bit but reduces the black peppercorn vibe Taste - Intense campfire smoke, sea spray, sweet vanilla, sweet smoked cheese, cracked black pepper, light ash, hint of sweet smoked meats, almost like a cracked black peppercorn honey smoked salmon (w/ water) Smoke is reduced, increased sweetness, lactic sweet, almost smoked vanilla/honey simple syrup sweet, smoked cheese, salt increases on backend, lightly metallic Finish - Lingering salty campfire smoke, smoked sweet cheese, sweet cream, black peppercorns (w/ water) Same but less black peppercorns Score - 83/100 Final Thoughts - This one was interesting as I got to experience Octomore at its "purest" by not having any strong cask influence on the base spirit. It's quite sweet and had the lactic "funk" I typically get from Bruichladdich, but something about this just felt like this was a bit on the sweet side. This felt like the interior of the barrel was retoasted so that it was coated with sugar crystals or something as this felt quite sweet like a maple or honey smoked salmon, where there was a bit too much sugar to start and the end product was a bit more on the candied side versus a glaze. It was good, but a bit extreme on the sweet I think. If there was any way to improve this, I'd say that it was better overall without water, but a bit hot without. Sadly, the addition of a bit of water removed the interesting black peppercorn aspect of this and somehow made it taste sweeter. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - No NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

Please forgive me Father, for I have sinned. If I were Catholic, I can merely utter those words, repent, and probably recommit the same atrocity. Round and round, so long as I repent. If I were Hindu, I’d be totally screwed, because there is no repent…Karma will beat my ass in due time, either in this life or the next. If I were Muslim, I can undo my atrocity by doing good elsewhere…and I can have that cycle continue again. I knew Octomore x.1 series are my least preferred. I always lean towards the x.3 or even x.2. But over and over, I buy x.1 , only to utter “ I’m so sorry, I really won’t do it again”. Fortunately, this time, it was only a 3cl sample that I paid for, not a full bottle. This one is 59.9% ABV, aged in ex-American whiskey casks, and peated to 130ppm. Which is freakin high, but anything over 40-50ppm , we mortal humans can’t really differentiate anyway. This really doesn’t offer anything special worthy of its price tag. At about $130-200, I’d really expect more, especially when it so boldly comes out saying it’s a 5yr old. I’m getting the standard lemon, peat and brine. Taste is very standard Islay — salt, brine, lemon zest , muted smoke. Nothing I couldn’t have from your cask strength Caol Ila 10-15yr old, but 1/2 the price. So…even though I’m not Catholic , I’m sorry , I truly repent, and my Lord in heaven, I promise I won’t buy another x.1 . At least until next year, when I’ll re-repent.

NOSE Crisp, honied orchard fruit, smoke, malt, vanilla pastry, char, baking spice, toffee sweetness and a bit of wax. This is just plain lovely. It’s warm, it’s fruity, it’s… unexpected. PALATE Minerality, smoke, hay-like malt, lemon curd, toffee, herbal spice, dried orchard fruit, honey and some light char and banana chips. Darker and heavier than the aroma, but also more spirit-forward with the minerality showing through. Like the aroma, the Octomore 12.2 palate has an unexpected delivery and I’m enjoying it. FINISH Long -> Smoke, brine, vanilla candy and toffee drift to a dry maltiness.

Very good, but a bit more tame than I expected. Still definitely not for the light of heart when it comes to peated whisky, but it’s not the monster I had expected. First impressions are good, but I’m not blown away. It is remarkably light and drinkable for 60% ABV. I can feel the heat in the back of my throat, but there’s zero burn in the nose and initial palate. Overall, I like it and don’t regret buying the bottle, but it is a bit different than expected. Looking forward to the next glass on another night!

Excellent, intense, and long but not as balanced and ironed-out at the seams as, say, the 10.3. The peat is full-bore petrol station — which I like, don’t get me wrong — but it lacks an extra dimension of fruit to go with it. I do pick up some banana and band-aid on the nose once I’m well into the bottle, so there’s complexity, but it takes coaxing. A stylistic favorite for me, but maybe not the best iteration.

This is one to take your time with…..I mean one pour will keep you occupied for hours. It’s exactly what you think it is and it’s wonderful. That being said I’d favor a cask strength Laphroaig 10 or Lagavulin 12 for a fraction of the price.