Octomore 11.1

I've had several of this particular bottling over the years. They've consistently been smoky, ashy, and possess a strong, good weight. They are also pricey. A friend generously provided this sample. I poured some on a Saturday night while watching a film. There was ample time to taste, sample, and enjoy. Nose: Sweet, blue smoke with a salty sea air quality. It's like a meat smoker burning hickory wood, infusing spare ribs at the beach during low tide in the evening. The sweetness in the aroma is unexpected, as more phenols would typically be anticipated. Vanilla beans, caramel, apple crumb pie, and bitter dark chocolate contribute to the dessert-like aroma. There's a faint scent of rubber bicycle inner tubes with a clean antiseptic smell. It's not what I would have initially guessed for this brand. Palate: The texture upon entry is a velvety sharpness. The sharpness fades, revealing a sweetness and an almost snooty earthiness. Caramel apples, butterscotch, orange zest, and fresh ginger are at its core. Dark bitter chocolate, rich cigar tobacco, black pepper, and jalapeño spice emerge towards the finish. Finish: The spice keeps the tongue buzzing for a considerable duration. The palate remains ashy, sweet, and citrusy. Its beauty lies in its persistence; it never seems to end, which is a positive attribute in this instance. Overall: Of the few bottles of this I've experienced, this is, as I recall, the most subdued. Most have been a direct, phenolic blast. This particular expression offers a sweetness that balances that ashy, phenolic impact. The high alcohol content is barely noticeable. It's a dram that can be savored slowly, enjoyably, and with pleasure. Thanks for the sample. [89/100][Tasted: 8/26/23]

The nose is rich with powerful aromas, beginning with sweet, smoky barbecue ribs, vanilla crème brûlée, and tangerine orange, then dark chocolate-covered almonds, hay, and seaside rocky minerality, followed by caramelized apples and grilled peaches. This transitions into ginger and gauze bandages with a strong alcohol burn. The taste presents a rich, creamy texture, starting with a moderate spice that gradually fades to caramelized pears, sweet, smoky barbecue pork belly, vanilla custard, and charred orange peel. This is followed by dark chocolate-covered espresso beans, burning hay, and seaside rocky minerality, then sour apple candy and lemon zest. It transitions into ginger, black pepper, and gauze bandages with a high alcohol burn. The finish is long, with charred barbecue ribs, light ocean brine, burning hay, sautéed apples, and gauze bandages that linger for minutes. This is a potent, peaty spirit that may not be for everyone. It requires patience, as the nose and palate are initially overwhelmed by alcohol until it rests for about 20 minutes, allowing the alcohol to mellow and the flavors to become more distinct. After some rest and a few drops of water, the flavors are bold and rich, with smoked meats leading, followed by creamy sweet citrus, light earthiness, hay, and ocean brine that lasts long after each sip. Considering its price of over $200, I suggest trying it before buying. While I really like it, some of my friends have described it as a confrontational scotch with an aggressive peated punch that had them submitting after the first taste.

Nose: smoke, fatty meats, cereal, salt, mint, wood funk, powdered sugar, molasses, damp hay. It's sometimes floral, sometimes sweet. Taste: Hot savory notes are followed by cracked black pepper, sliding into a long-lasting sweet finish. Maple, citrus, salinity, nutmeg, smoke, iodine, rich fruits, and wood tannins. It would be simpler to list what isn't in this glass than what is. This expression is surely one of the most complex and powerful, yet still delightful, whiskies I've ever had the privilege to possess. I'm finishing a bottle I've had for about 7 years, and each time I revisit it, I discover something new to appreciate.

Nose: Mild peat, fragrant sweet smoke, BBQ, bonfire. Hay and farmyard notes. Slightly ashy Palate: Very sweet peat, charred oak, saline, sea salt, caramelized fruit, green chilies Finish: Peat, bonfire, saline/salt, dark chocolate chili in the aftertaste This is a rich and complex dram. It lacks some of the more intense characteristics found in many other expressions I've sampled, but it is a truly wonderful dram!

Nose: Cherries, oak, malt, orange blossom, stone fruit, honey, and peat. Palate: Sweet cream, custard, stewed peaches, brown sugar, layers of peat. Finish: Long, creamy, sweet, peaty with hints of spice. Adding water reveals orange and honey notes, softens the peat, and introduces some oak. Compared to the 10.1, the 10.1 offers more berry and tobacco, greater salinity, and earthier peat. The 11.1 is sweeter, with more custard and stone fruit. They are distinctly different drams.

Nose: Step back from the glass a bit; at nearly 60% ABV and from Islay, this one will hit your nostrils hard. Iodine, salty, campfire smoky, similar to opening a bag of charcoal briquettes while standing on a beach. Taste is sweet and salty, followed by a slight burn from the alcohol, then a wave of smoke and charcoal. The palate is oily, the smoke lingers, and your gums go a little numb, like after sipping absinthe. Definitely one of the most interesting whiskeys I've encountered.