Whisky Review/Tasting: Octomore 07.2

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: Produced by the Bruichladdich Distillery, located on the Isle of Islay, Scotland.
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Distillation & Maturation: Distilled in Bruichladdich's tall, narrow-necked stills. Aged for 5 years in a combination of American White Oak ex-bourbon casks and Syrah wine casks. The exact fill type of the bourbon casks (first or second fill) is unspecified.
Age Statement: 5 years.
Color & Clarity: Acquired some color, details on clarity not provided.
Bottle Design: The bottle features information about its Scottish barley origin, its super heavily peated classification, and homage to the Octomore Distillery. It also emphasizes the distillery's values, including authenticity, provenance, and traceability.

Peatiness: Extremely peated with 208 ppm of smoke, significantly higher than typical Islay malts.
Flavor Balance: Dominated by smoky flavors, with faint hints of berries, fruitiness, and vanilla appearing after some time and with the addition of water.
Unique Characteristics: The combination of American White Oak and Syrah casks contributes to a complex profile, with the Syrah casks adding a unique red wine grape intensity and some oakiness.

Distillery Anecdotes: The Octomore series is named in homage to a long-lost Islay distillery, with a stone on a local graveyard marking the Montgomery family's tragedy. The series represents Bruichladdich's experimentation with extreme peat levels in whisky.
Personal Experience: Horst Luening, the reviewer, shares a personal anecdote about his aversion to extremely peated whiskies and his obligation to review them despite his preferences.

Islay's Tradition: Octomore 07.2 continues Islay's tradition of producing peated whiskies, pushing the boundaries with its unprecedented peat levels.
Bruichladdich's Philosophy: The distillery's commitment to local employment, including hiring local handicapped individuals, and its focus on authenticity and provenance, highlight its dedication to community and craftsmanship.

"Stinky. Really stinky." - Initial reaction to the whisky's intense smokiness.
"It is a velvet glove round an iron fist." - Describes the whisky's powerful flavor profile.
"This has been my liability to the job." - Luening's humorous take on reviewing a whisky that challenges his personal taste preferences.

Octomore 07.2 is a super heavily peated single malt from Bruichladdich Distillery, aged for 5 years in a mix of American White Oak and Syrah casks.
It features an unprecedented 208 ppm of smoke, making it one of the most peated whiskies available.
The flavor profile is dominated by smoky notes, with subtle hints of fruitiness, berries, and vanilla emerging over time.
The whisky pays homage to the lost Octomore Distillery and reflects Bruichladdich's innovative spirit and commitment to Islay's whisky-making traditions.
Despite the reviewer's personal aversion to extremely peated whiskies, he acknowledges the craftsmanship behind Octomore 07.2 and its appeal to fans of heavily peated malts.

Peat Aficionados: Ideal for whisky enthusiasts who relish in the challenge of extremely peated whiskies and appreciate the complexity that high levels of smoke can bring to a spirit.
Adventurous Drinkers: Suitable for those looking to explore the upper limits of peated whisky and enjoy experimenting with unique flavor profiles.
Collectors: With its limited edition status and unique characteristics, Octomore 07.2 is a must-have for collectors seeking to complete their range of Octomore releases.