Bruichladdich Micro Provenance - Octomore #LADDIEMP6

The Micro-Provenance Series from Bruichladdich is perhaps not very well known. A total of seven live broadcast tastings were held between April 2015 and September 2017, then an eighth tasting in September 2019. They were named MP1 through MP8. The MP6 tasting consisted of three Octomore whiskies - where each came in a 200 ml “Wee Laddie” bottle.

I have now tested the Octomores of #LADDIEMP6.

Octomore #LADDIEMP6 - cask #4468, 6 YO, 60.4 %

The first expression was matured in a 2nd fill Rivesaltes Cask for six years.

Nose: Tempered nose, almost shy. The beast is asleep. Earthy notes. Soft oakiness. Vanilla and hints of citrus - mainly oranges. With time even more earthy - a dunnage warehouse filled with crates of tropical fruits placed atop heaps of ashes and coal.

Taste: Full on and full bodied. Intensely sweet and fruity. Oranges, apples and pineapple. Sweet wine. Liquid smoke - intensely so - but it remains balanced. White pepper and ginger.

Finish: Medium to long. Soft spices, but indeterminate. Earthy cinnamon and vanilla. Fizzy, sparkling, sooty, fruity dessert wine.

Comment: I certainly works for me!

Score 89/100

Octomore #LADDIEMP6 - cask #4819, 6 YO, 62.2 %

The second expression was matured in a fresh bourbon cask for six years.

Nose: Oooh, the caress. Very appealing bourbon cask nose - which perfectly matches and balances the peat. Warm, home made, rich caramel pudding with a drizzle of the finest butterscotch sauce and whipped cream. Nuts and unsalted caramel popcorn.

Taste: Very rich, very smooth. Again the home made caramel pudding and butterscotch sauce. Now also vanilla and white pepper. Cinnamon and fizzy ginger. Creamy fruitiness - barbecued pineapple.

Finish: Medium to short finish. Continues much as it started, but it does come across as more dry now. Soot and fruity ashes.

Comment: Not quite convinced, though it is good quality.

Score 86/100

Octomore #LADDIEMP6 - cask #0022, 13 YO, 59.2 %

The third and final expression was matured in a Ribera del Duero / Bourbon Cask for 13 years.

Nose: Dusty, earth vanilla. Dusty and dry wood smoke. Cocoa nibs. Sweet summer fruits in the background. With time I pick up oranges and pineapple that has been barbecued for a bit. Vanilla and hints of other citrus fruits. Tempered and very well balanced.

Taste: Full bodied and screaming for attention. A two-pronged attack - a massive fruit train powering ahead as well as a whirlwind of smoky, peaty, spicy darkness.

Finish: Medium to long finish. More concentrated peat now - almost chewy in character. Soot, ashes, smoke and peat. Rich and creamy till the very end.

Comment: Wow! Just wow!

Score 91/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas