Octomore 12.3

Appearance: The color is amber. When swirled, a thin streak clings to the glass and beads quickly, but the legs form at a very slow pace. Nose: Sooty peat smoke, vanilla, caramel, and adhesive bandages are present, along with a pleasant maritime saltiness. A faint hint of lemon zest and a touch of sweet fruit, possibly strawberries, linger in the background, making it quite appetizing. Palate: It has a pleasingly oily texture. Thick, heavy peat smoke, charcoal, rich clover honey, caramel, chocolate-covered raisins, sweet and bitter red wine notes, spicy oak, and ripe, juicy tangerines are present, alongside a bit of brininess. The flavors are intense and potent yet remarkably well-balanced, resulting in an absolutely delightful experience. Finish: The finish is exceptionally long. Wisps of peat smoke drift through the mouth, mingling with adhesive bandages, salted caramels, apricots, and buttery, charred sweet corn straight from the grill. As this incredible (and tasty!) flavor combination gradually fades, the peat smoke persists, joined by ashes and a subtle earthy note, finally concluding with a mild, lingering wintergreen. With Water: Adding a few drops of water introduces notes of peaches and warm strawberry rhubarb pie to the aroma, which is wonderful! There's an increase in salinity on the palate and some lemon drop candies on the finish. Total: 92/100 Final thoughts: It's a known fact that all Octomore expressions are pricey. While some justify the cost for me, others don't. This particular one, however, is worth every cent. My preferred whiskies are those that offer a thrilling journey for the palate, and this bottle delivers exactly that. It consistently amazes from the first sip, offering so much complexity that one can lose track of time slowly enjoying and contemplating each taste. It also brings back a memory of my brother and I trying this for the first time at a small pub during our initial trip to Edinburgh. We were both completely blown away and immediately decided to buy bottles of our own. Price: $190 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes

Aroma: Smoky and peppery, reminiscent of a campfire and machine oil, with notes of sweet peppercorns, earth, sea spray, and a hint of menthol when diluted. Dilution slightly tempers the smoke, introducing a lemon note while keeping the overall profile similar. Flavor: An intense wave of hot, ashy smoke and salt, with earthy undertones, a delicate lactic sweetness, and a mouth-numbing quality. With water, the profile shifts to ashy sweet smoke, earthiness, salt, black peppercorns, more ash, a creamy sweetness, a whisper of golden raisins, and a touch of lemon. Finish: A lingering, fuzzy heat and Szechuan-style tingle/burn, accompanied by campfire smoke, salt, and a generic sweetness. Water addition results in a finish of persistent salt, earth, ash, and lemon. Rating: 75/100 Overall Impression: This spirit packed a serious punch with its heat. The 62% ABV felt more like a hazardous material. The aroma skillfully concealed the proof, appearing somewhat subdued with hints of black peppercorns, pleasant ashy smoke, and a touch of dark earth to complete the profile. Upon tasting, a blast of black peppercorn ashy smoke emerges, followed by significant heat, some salt, a generic sweetness, and a tingling sensation akin to static across the entire mouth. This was exceptionally potent and definitely benefited from dilution. Water helped to uncover some fruity nuances; frankly, without prior knowledge of a 25% PX influence, it would have been completely undetectable. The overall impression leans towards ex-American whiskey with an unusual lactic fruit character. Despite its appealing concept, it may not be perfectly suited to my palate. Would I have a drink if offered? - Possibly Would I order it specifically? - No Would I purchase a bottle? - No IMPORTANT - Pricing is not considered in any reviews.

The nose offers soft smoke, a touch of saltiness, hints of fruit-like sweetness, and malty yeast, with some iodine. The taste is buttery brine with malty cereal notes. Earthiness and smoke combine with sweet dessert spices. The malt presence is surprisingly strong, with less PX cask influence than anticipated. It's like buttery bread grilled over a campfire by the sea, with faint notes of grilled peaches and fruit. The finish reveals more wood, specifically oak, with a blend of bitterness and sweetness like smoked meats, maintaining a briny character. The finish is medium-long. Overall, it's a very pleasant and worthwhile bottle. While I might prefer the bolder notes of the other bottling, this is still excellent.

SMELL Smoke, charred pears, sea salt character, baked apples, sugary vanilla, nutty cereal and warming baking spices with grain. This bottling offers a fantastic seaside vibe, making it distinct from the other 12 series expressions in its bouquet. MOUTHFEEL Smoke, seared pears, sweet barbecue, botanical spice, roasted malt, rich caramel, nutty cereal, sugary vanilla and grassy grain. The density of this taste is astonishing. It comes across as a thick, earthy, peaty, sweet, and spiced elixir. AFTERTASTE Extended -> Smoke, caramel, fruit, and honey recede, leaving a touch of wood.

Opened previously No water added Nose - faint smoke, salt, and dark berries Palate - intense fruitiness that draws more fruit, sharp, spicy Conclusion - the top performer of the 12-year-olds, the sherry works well with the smokiness

Sharp peat. Excellent for cold evenings as it's spicy and warming. Less balanced than the 12.2, so it does come close to that "band-aid" taste on the finish.