Bruichladdich Octomore Discovery Quadruple Distilled
Bruichladdich Octomore Discovery Quadruple Distilled, 7 YO, 69,5 %
Bruichladdich Octomore Discovery Quadruple Distilled
I am rather fond of the über-peated Octomore whiskies from Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay. Usually these whiskies are released at 5 YO. For the Feis Ile 2014 Bruichladdich made a twist, releasing the Bruichladdich Octomore Discovery Quadruple Distilled. Normally Bruichladdich (as most Scottish distilleries) will distill their whisky twice, this whisky is distilled four times. This will of course bring the ABV up and for each distillation you will end up with a cleaner and purer product. Not necessarily a better product, as some of the impurities removed are what give s a whisky character. Anyways, an interesting experiment!
Another deviation from the regular Octomore formula here is that the Bruichladdich Octomore Discovery Quadruple Distilled has been matured for 7 years, not the normal 5. Bruichladdich has also released a 10 YO Octomore, but that was an exception.
This whisky was distilled on 2007-02-18, matured in Oloroso sherry butts, and launched as a limited bottling of just 1695 bottles. The number 1695 because the adventurer Martin Martin's journey took place around that time.
Here is what the distillery itself is saying about this bottling:
Martin Martin was an adventurer on a journey of discovery. He wrote one of the first travelogues about the Western Isles of Scotland and famously described some early versions of what would eventually evolve into Scotch whisky: "the Natives to brew several sorts of Liquors, as common Usquebaugh, another call'd Trestarig, id est Aquavitae, three times distill'd, which is strong and hot; a third sort is four times distill'd, and this by the Natives is call'd Usquebaugh-baul, id est Usquebaugh, which at first taste affects all the Members of the Body: two spoonfuls of this last Liquor is a sufficient Dose; and if any Man exceed this, it would presently stop his Breath, and endanger his Life".
Nose (22/25): Incredibly soft, could that be the two extra distillations? This is pure stuff - very clean and crisp. Soft and super-delicate vanilla notes mixed with every so elegant sherry notes. There is a hint of alcohol on the nose here, but at 69,5 % ABV it is very hard to avoid that entirely.
Taste (22/25): Super-smooth. Rich, warm and sweet on the palate. Caramel and soft fruit notes - apples and grapes. Soft spices - cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish (22/25): Caramel and fruits. Warm (of course) and very long. The peat is very laid back, but works as a comforting cushion for the sweeter notes.
Balance (22/25): Super-clean. Maybe slightly too clean? I do miss a little bit of Octomore roughness.
Score (88/100)
Image from www.whiskyauctioneer.com.
Sláinte! - Thomas
