Octomore Masterclass 08.1/167

250 reviews later, I’m finding it hard to be inspired enough by a dram to write a review. What’s interested me lately is real blind tastings with black opaque Glencairn’s. Do they represent how we should really value a spirit? In my opinion, not exactly. Packaging, marketing, brand loyalty, and how much you spent will all color our enjoyment of a spirit, and that seems natural and normal to me. People don’t buy bottles to drink it solely out of blind line ups. However, truly blind tastings (i.e., without any visual clues), do say at least something about value comparisons, and deserve some attention for the aficionado. At least, if you win in one of my blind tastings, I should write a fucking review. Congratulations to Octomore 8.1. This was the result of this blind tasting of peat heavyweights: #1: Octomore 8.1. Original bottling by Bruichladdich. 8 years old. Bottled 2017. 59.7% #2: Port Charlotte. Bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Company. 13 years old. Batch 8. Bottled 2018. 52.7%. #3: Laphroaig. Bottled by Cadenhead. 19 years old. 175th Anniversary Edition. Bottled 2017. 54.0% #4: Ardbeg Supernova. Original bottling. NAS. Bottled 2019. 53.8% #5: Ardbeg Supernova. Original bottling. NAS. Bottled 2015. 54.3% #6: Octomore 4.1. Original bottling by Bruichladdich. 5 years old. Bottled 2012. 62.5% These reviews going forward will be more of a blog where I can talk about multiple whiskies before praising the winner. All whiskies in this line up were delicious and are worthy of being in the ~$200 price range. All of these whiskies, however, will be difficult if not impossible to obtain at those prices because of discontinuation and/or scarcity. Notable findings about this blind tasting: OLDER DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN BETTER. The golden age of Octomore, in my opinion was 5, 6, and 7. But I remember being blown away by the 2.1 and 2.2. I had high expectations when I opened the 4.1, which I bought on the secondary market for $300, but this was surprisingly subtle compared to the other whiskies, despite being the highest ABV. 4.1 is clearly inferior to 8.1 because it simply does not have that rustic stench that I identify as a heavily peated offering from Bruichladdich. ARDBEG SUPERNOVA IS NOT BETTER THAN OCTOMORE. You are likely going to pay a helluva lot more for Supernova than Octomore but, if you share my palate, it’s not worth it! I was able to get the 2019 at $230 (near MSRP), but had to pay secondary of $400 for the 2015. Unblinded, I would take the Octomore 4.1 over these. Unblinded, I enjoyed 2015 more than 2019. Both the supernovas had “I’m not ready to be bottled notes” that I did not experience with Octomore. The Ardbegs, however, are much ashier if you are into ash, compared to Octomore. The Cadenhead Laphroaig is just a beast of a Laphroaig. It is more Froygian than any original bottling I’ve experienced. Laphroaig as a brand prides itself in being unrefined, but many independent bottlings make official bottlings feel like Geoffrey Butler on Fresh Prince. The TBWC bottling of Port Charlotte was the most farmy by far of the line up. It poses the question of what PPM actually means; because; if it means smokiness (ashiness), most Ardbegs beats out any Bruichladdich product, including Octomore. If it means like eating chemically treated soil on a farm, many Port Charlotte offerings are far superior to Octomore. This particular Port Charlotte STINKS like if there was a toe jam perfume. It is, despite being the lowest ABV, the loudest of the line up. And now to heap praise on the winner, Octomore 8.1: This is a whisky that balances between being loud and being noticeable. Unblinded, I unambiguously enjoy 8.1 over 4.1. Unfortunately, the only Octomore 5-7 I still own is an unopened bottle of 6.1 and I can only imagine that I would like the 6.1 better. Previously, I rated 8.1 three stars and basically did not recommend it. I may need to look back at the 8 series and reconsider. Unfortunately, they now cost more than most other series on the secondary because the 8.3 is still the most PPM ever. The 8.1 is extremely soily and acidic. You can easily describe it as moss and volcanic undergrowth. There is a nice balance of oaky sweetness on the palate, and a brutal ashiness rolls over on the finish. Score: * (unforgettably good) How much does a bottle cost?: ~$200 at retail. Secondary now is ~$400-500. How much do I think a bottle is worth?: $230

After 544 whiskies (not in one night lol) i finally had the "super peated", incredibly famous Octomore. I know there are a lot of Octomore expressions but i managed to get me a sample of the 08.1. Octomore as you might already know, is the heavily peated whisky from bruichladdich distillery, which is known for its organic barley. It is called "masterclass" and it has 167ppm of Peat, which is like 5 times an Ardbeg. Unchill filthered and uncolored. But, was it any good? Bottled at 59.3%abv, amber color. On the nose: SUPER PERFUMED. It is quite lovely and easy on the nose. The peat presents itself very strong but perfumed. Like cologne infused foam. Not smoky or earthy at all, but perfumed. Then, clean citric notes appear: fresh limes and oranges. After a couple of minutes that fresh orange turns into a more artificial / sugary orange. After a couple of sips, lemon air freshener and thick caramel notes appear. On the palate: it is very straightforward, only four flavors: lemon, lime, oranges (all of them very fresh and clean) and pepper. Then.... kaboom. Aftertaste is way too powerful. It feels like it can cure you from any disease because no bacteria or virus can survive a sulphuric bath like the one you just inflicted to your esophagus. Very earthy dry, smoky, sulphuric and full of mint, this one i will remember for ages. I have had whiskies with higher abv and none of them deliver this black mint, super listerine, smoky sensation. It is not unpleasant but not amazing either. Overall this dram has a very good nose and not a very complex palate. Aftertaste is way too powerful and i get it, you wanted to make world's peatiest dram and you went for it, that doesn't necessarily means its going to be great. It is not what i expected, it is not bad but not that enjoyable. 84 over 100 is my score for it.

Octomore will always be a nice dram to finish a dram session, and I don’t think that will ever change. What has changed is whether or not the price is worth it. I recently had the privilege of trying Octomore 2.1, and that instantly became my favorite Octomore. This Octomore 8.1, with 3 additional years of aging, cannot compare. Octomore 8.1 is 8 years old, and previous x.1 Octomore offerings are 5 years old. I have had the 7.1, 6.1, 5.1, 4.1, and 2.1. This 8.1 tastes younger. Without water, it is just wound up and tense. It needs a massage. Flavors are strong, and most of them are weird. Sewage. And I don’t know if it’s a “pleasant sewage.” Of course, tons and tons of ash. The rich buttery counterbalance of previous Octomores is missing. With water, this one is much better. The flavors are milder and quite pleasant. Vinegar, tart, raw fish, caviar, loads of salt, and a satisfying heap of peat. But the butter is missing. I have not tried the 9 or 10 series of Octomore, but I will, because I am still a believer. But my expectations are lowered after having had 8.1 and 8.3. Score: 0 (forgettable) How much does a bottle cost: $170-200 How much do I think a bottle is worth: $120

The nose is rich, smoky, meaty, and salty (much like Lagavulin 16) with some fresh orange and peat notes. The palate has a lot of smoke and peat with lots of mushrooms. It isn't overly harsh, but that iodine sure does last. It has some sweetness that is a little like toffee with some walnuts, but that is hard to make out. The peat outweighs the smoke, which I'm not a huge fan of. There are some nice notes of slightly creamy dark chocolate, but there are also some random herbal notes that are difficult to make out. The flavor is rich and doesn't have much on the sweet end of the spectrum. There's a bit of brine and salt, but it isn't excessive. There's some nice smoky meatiness like one would find in chipotles. With added water, it becomes less harsh, but the peat really comes out, giving it sort of a minty flavor. The richness is enhanced by additional chocolate and creaminess, but it winds up tasting a lot like Laphroaig with herbal bandages coming through. I'd say that the balance is better than in Laphroaig with the creamy chocolate and other bits of subtle flavor such as mineral and mild floral notes coming out, it's still not exceptional.

OCTOMORE MASTERCLASS 8.1 8YO 59.3% - THREE MONTHS SITTING SAMPLE BOTTLES - rOASTED BBQ MEAT, peppery, sweet woodchips, apple woodchips 3.25 - oaky, apple, malty, and dense creamy and dark choco, fire hot pepper given the high ABV, 3 - sustained light to mid smoke, oaky 3 3.25 Nosing. Very sweet aroma, honey and oats, and oak in the first whiff. For the second whiff, you get hit more with a very slight burn from the intensity of high alcohol and burnt rubber tires. Flavour. High ABV but it doesn’t have the peppery burn that you get like from all other relatively young whisky. What you find is a soothing warmness that spreads across your mouth - a sensation I’ve not felt with other whisky before. Once the first wave of warmness boils over, you get strong Saltiness, briny and iodine, and a smooth creamy texture Finish - Smokey, definitely but calling this peatiness will not do this justice. Give it 10 seconds and you are licking the bottom of a bbq beef shank cauldron. Don’t feel so? Force a belch - and you will be surprise at the aroma that erupts from within you. Weird - but true

So everything in the branding around this whiskey is about the fact its got the highest peat of anything available. And while that may be true scientifically, frankly its not the smokiest thing I've ever had. If you're like me and would love to know what licking an ashtray tastes like, you should explore the standard ranges of Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Longrow, and Balcones Brimstone, to my palette all of those hit harder in terms of smoke. Now this is still an extremely smoky spirit and a fantastic one at that but with the hefty price tag if what you're looking for is "the maximum smoke experience" you may be disappointed. Still, this is quite the beast. Weaving together flavors of old and new wood beautifully with the smoke, citrus, the ghost of past bourbons, cigars with Connecticut wrappers and a note I can describe only as rice pudding. Its complicated, sophisticated and has an amazingly long tail.