Smoked vanilla, sweet caramel, and toffee notes open on the nose, with sooty smoke balanced with delicate coconut and flaked almonds. There is an unmistakable earthy smokiness and a hint of citrus, with lemon meringue pie cutting through rich barbeque pork.
PALATE
Bright citrus, smoke and a distinct minerality come through on the palate, followed by charred oak and beach bonfire embers. Toffee and creamy vanilla are balanced with the earthy smoke, with bright notes of pear, gooseberry fool and green apple simultaneously adding brightness and depth. Roasted coffee, hints of clove and nutmeg begin to come to the fore, with a gentle hint of heather honey.
FINISH
Butterscotch and vanilla are balanced with Octomore’s signature earthy peat smoke and a hint of salt spray, with burnt heather and gorse flowers settling on the finish.
In classic Australian style, this whisky has absolutely rippled flavour out of its cask. However, while I was expecting spiky youth in the spirit and the abv, it drinks with a maturity and ease that belies these facts. I have since bought two bottles. Absolutely delicious and as good, if not better, than it’s Scotch peers
Nose: A rich herbal aroma intertwined with bonfire smoke, evoking imagery of a seaside campfire. Notes of sea salt, struck matches, and subtle roasted orange peel linger behind the smoky veil.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied with a distinct oily texture. The high proof delivers a robust entry, blending sweet spices with peat, accented by a faint trace of sulfur.
Finish: Long and warming, with persistent ashy smoke and briny sea breeze. Hints of matchstick and a delicate iodine note round it out.
With Water: The aroma reveals pronounced wet sea salt and brine, with the smokiness softening into a rounder profile. Vanilla and oak emerge prominently. On the palate, the sweetness persists, with the peat becoming less intense, giving way to caramelized oak and fruit notes.
A gentle giant. This old grain whisky doesn’t try to shout, but it has plenty to say if you’re listening. A soft, elegant dram with aged sherry cask influence, balancing fruit, leather, oak, and just a whisper of tobacco. If you’re chasing subtle complexity over brute strength, this hits the mark.