This was apparently the first distillation of Octomore, and briefly the most peated whisky in the world at 80.5ppm. Aged in a Buffalo Trace bourbon cask.
Whisky: Octomore 5 Year (2002), Futures I
Country/Region: Scotland/Islay
Cask: Buffalo Trace bourbon
ABV: 46%
Age: 5 Years (Distilled October 2002, Bottled April 2008)
Nose: Herbal. Grassy. Pine. Gin.
Palate: Tobacco. Water. Touch of smoke and peat. Milk.
Finish: Salty peat and smoke. Lingering tobacco. Nearly not there…
Score: 6
Mental Image: Smoke on the soft-sippin’ tobacco water.
Light and lovely nose. But once we move on to the palate, it’s seriously subtle. Thin, smooth, and very watered down. Almost like tobacco water. A few more typical Octomore notes. The finish is nearly nonexistent. POOF. Gone. On the one hand, a bit of a let down of dram. That said, it’s rather easy-drinking and there are a few lovely notes in there, so I did enjoy sipping on it. The milky-sweet did build a bit over the course of the dram, with a touch of salt. Only after the dram was finished, sniffing the empty Glencairn, did I notice how peaty this really was.
This was tasted as part of a Bruichladdich/Octomore tasting put on by Dramfool.