Octomore 12.2

Nose: Initially, the aroma is dominated by wood smoke, brine, and lemon zest. However, after prolonged sniffing, I detected wine-like notes and a honey fragrance, indicating the most prominent Sauternes influence. The nose is potent yet also gentle and smooth. Over time, the peat aroma develops more complexity with coal tar and earthy peat joining the wood smoke. Adding water reveals scents of yeasty dough and a hint of plastic/rubber, but the sweet honeyed notes provide sufficient balance to maintain a pleasant overall character. Palate: The initial taste is sweet, rich, and has a dense, unctuous texture. The peat is very prominent but sits atop layers of luxurious caramel, dessert wine, apricots, honey, creosote, and pickle water. There's a sharp sensation of white pepper in the latter part of the palate. Dilution simplifies and unifies the palate, with tarry peat and camphor becoming more noticeable, while the texture becomes silkier and the pepper note diminishes. Finish: Long. Peat smoke, grilled oysters with lemon, salt, and pepper. Adding water enhances the sweetness. Adding water causes a significant amount of oil to separate from this spirit, forming a strong misty haze almost immediately, and the whisky continues to become cloudier over time. It's advisable to let it rest for a while after dilution, as the nose and palate both undergo considerable transformation. Initially, water seems to merely temper the spirit, but the longer you allow it to sit, the more complexity you will discover. It's debatable whether the punchiness and purity of the neat pour are superior to the balance and complexity of the diluted form, but both are very enjoyable. In summary, I enjoyed this Octomore, which is generally the case with this whisky brand. This is certainly not the best Octomore I have sampled, but it's far from the least enjoyable. I have been evaluating Octomores since their introduction, and my general impression is that they were exceptional in the early years (up to the eighth editions), then experienced a slight decline, but have been steadily improving since edition 12. The recent 14th and 15th editions are excellent, and while the 12th edition whiskies weren't quite at that level yet, they are all worth trying. "Very Good": 86/100 (4 stars)

Nose - Faint charcoal/black pepper smoke, subtle salt, golden raisins, salt-cured plums (with water) Becomes more vibrant, less plum, more salty parmesan rind, cracked black peppercorns. Taste - Salty sweet smoke, saline, salt-pickled plums, gentle black pepper heat, a light sweet lactic "funk" (with water) Ashy smoked meat sweetness, salted sweet smoked meats, pears, almost teriyaki-like sweetness. Finish - Lingering gentle heat, subtle lactic funk, sweet pickled plums, saline (with water) Dry ashy smoke, a sweet savory/meaty salmon jerky essence. Score - 86/100 Final Thoughts - This was quite the unusual spirit, feeling like two distinct pours once I added a bit of water. The nose was quite subdued initially and only truly opened up after dilution. Strangely, I got this sweet salty preserved Asian hard plum essence from it without water, and it vanished completely once water was added. The plum was replaced by this sweet teriyaki meat/salmon jerky vibe. I suppose it's positive that you experience two vastly different profiles, but it just wasn't really to my liking. Compared to the 10.2, this one felt much more savory sweet smoked meats, and I couldn't really tell it might have had a sauternes finish. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Perhaps Would I buy a bottle? - Unlikely NOTE - All evaluations are made without considering price.

Consumed neat, straight from the bottle. First time trying any Octomore! On the nose, the peat dominates, radiating from the glass. It's a savory peat. Upon first approach, it's all burnt ends, but fruits and sweetness quickly take over, like pineapple and pears with raspberry preserves on the side. There's also salted sourdough and a hint of milk chocolate. It smoothly transitions from savory to sweet and back again. The peat is present but not overpowering. On the taste, the mouthfeel and initial intense flavors are outstanding. It's oily, and the peat and spiced cooked pears coat every part of my mouth. Everything intensifies mid-palate and continues to the finish. Mid-palate, it's a blend of sweet and savory, featuring spiced pears again with vanilla cream and salted caramel. It finishes at its flavor peak with cinnamon, pepper, pears, jam, burnt ends, and sparkling white grape juice that lasts for ages. Oh, that's delicious. The finish lingers long after the glass is empty. The sweetness and jam notes are unexpected. The peat is balanced despite being prominent. I truly enjoyed this pour. I would purchase 12.1 or 12.3 if I encountered them.

An absolutely delightful invitation to a spicy and delicious home campfire, with the sweetness and complexity of a holiday gathering at grandma's. Incredibly approachable for a ridiculous 127 ppm and remarkably complex. Many layers of flavors, both sweet and spicy. Simply beautiful! Nose: Quieter than anticipated for the peat bomb it is, but also much more inviting than expected. Sweetness throughout the smoke! Palate: Simply delicious, a dream of citrus and syrupy honey sweetness, likely from the Sauternes cask. But with a beautiful spice note that brings smiles and warm feelings. Finish: Perhaps the best finish I've ever encountered, not the longest, but the smoke experience was incredible! $33 per pour, $250 per bottle.

NOSE Smoke, vanilla icing, fruitcake, dried orchard fruits, honey, white raisins, earthy malt like hay, herbal spice, and a hint of minerality. It has a pleasing juicy character that complements the earthier notes well. PALATE Smoke, sweet barbecue, toffee, white raisins, dried fruit, earthy malt like hay, baking spices, and hints of sweet tobacco and herbs. As it develops, deeper flavors emerge, and after some time, this expression becomes a balanced blend of peat and sweetness with dark fruit notes. FINISH Long-lasting: Peat, toffee, dried fruit, herbal spice, and a touch of toffee.

An incredible experience with this spirit! Everything about this whisky screams quality! On the nose, there's a strong aroma of charred oak and peat, yet it harmonizes with a floral note, orange peel jam, and infused milk chocolate. More complexity emerges with continued sipping. On the palate, it's wonderfully smoky, with hints of applewood smoked bacon. The orange peel is present, and floral notes appear towards the end. The finish is exceptionally long and pleasing. What a remarkable drink! It deserves a top score. Fantastic!