Octomore Edition 12.1 5 Year Old | The Impossible Equation

Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 
Distillery Bottling 70cl / 59.9%

Octomore 5-year-old 12.1 is the first of a trio of Bruichladdich's mega-peated Octomore expressions released in autumn 2021.

Known for some time now as The Impossible Equation, Bruichladdich's experimental Octomores have continued setting the bar for the most hugely phenolic peat monsters.

Octomore 12.1 continues this tradition and is the simplest of the three '12' series releases - the control sample, as they put it. While the other two Octomore 12 releases use wine casks for maturation or finishing, Octomore 12.1 is peated to 130ppm and bottled as a 5-year-old at 59.9% after ageing only in first fill American whiskey casks.

Please note that Octomore 12.1 is Strictly Maximum 1 Bottle per Customer.

Attributes

Tasting Notes

Colour: Light gold.

Character: Vibrant, punchy and lively initially and then opens up to reveal layers of complexity, instilled through slow distillation, careful maturation and cask selection. A dram that rewards those who seek to discover the mysterious, enigmatic whisky that is Octomore.

Nose: Opens on zesty citrus freshness and earthy peat smoke. Vanilla sponge cake and barley sugars with rich malt sweetness. Coconut and chocolate, vanilla and caramel follow and as the aromas open further cinder toffee and layers of Peat smoke and honey come to the fore.

Palate: Peppery and sweet on the palate, with a texture of warm golden syrup. Honey and peat smoke then fired oak chips and peaty apricot jam open. Anther sip brings malted barley sugars and straw, heather flower and a nutty nougat sweetness. A mineral sandy note sits on the palate and brings through a dry phenolic earthy smoke and hints of orange zest and pear drops.

Finish: The finish brings salted caramel with floral and herbal notes. Honeysuckle, primrose and then gentle peat smoke, as ever, the note that drifts on the longest.