Octomore 01.1

Octomore 01.1, 5 YO, 63.5 %

I reviewed my first Octomore back in April 2012 (see review). It was the Octomore 02.2. Up until then I had only heard whispers of the Octomores. I had never had any myself. The “Orpheus”, as the 02.2 was called, blew my mind. It was so, so peaty, but at the same time it was such a wonderfully balanced and fruity whisky. To this day I still hold the “Orpheus” to be one of the best in the series. I tasted it again in 2019 when I hosted my two-day Octomore super tasting where we tasted 20 different Octomore expressions (see report).

The Octomore 01.1 was the first release in the regular Octomore series. Distilled on 2002-10-16, matured in bourbon casks from Buffalo Trace, and bottled 2008-12-07. The total outturn was 6000 bottles, and this whisky was made with malt peated to the then unheard of level of 131 ppm phenols.

Now, almost nine years after my first Octomore review I finally get to review the Octomore 01.1.

Nose: Not at all intimidating on first sniff. It is peaty and smoky, for sure. Also a rather typical mix of vanilla, milk chocolate, marshmallows, coconut and orchard fruits. With time more vanilla notes, mixed with sweet tar and oranges.

Taste: Big and bold on the palate. Cold burning coal, ashes and soot. Smoky chimney, old fireplace, coal, tar pits, water soaked fire site. Pepper. Dry at first. Borderline bitter.

Finish: Medium long finish. Once the initial death grasp relents it does welcome you into a warmer embrace of sorts. Slowly there are more tender notes of summer fruits emerging, as well as milk chocolate, vanilla and earthy cinnamon. Very phenolic in the end - medicinal levels! This is antiseptic. This can cure obscure illnesses. Softly bitter in the end as well.

Comment: Whoa! What a punch!

Score 88/100

PS! Big thanks to Morten for the generous sample!

Sláinte!
-Thomas