14.1 128.9 PPM 59.6%
Usually, you'd quickly smell the peat in such a release, but I find it not as penetrating as it should be. Light citrus-like and creamy nuances in the aroma with a hint of peat, nothing that really scares you away. The taste, on the other hand, is as expected. A pure freight train hitting you with this light citrus flavor, I guarantee we're dealing with peated whisky, and it does not disappoint. The deliciously well-matured, creamy taste that I think one finds in Bruichladdich is also present in this bottle. The peat taste is clear and unfortunately fades quite quickly, not necessarily a bad thing.
14.2 128.9 PPM 57.7%
When you stick your nose in this one, you will quickly smell this delightful sherry cask. I haven't had that truly satisfying "mmm" taste when aging a peated whisky on sherry casks. I often find it to be a kind of failed experiment and a way to get sherry lovers to try the peated whisky. In short, I actually expect them to make it all come together. Again, there's not much to trace in this peaty scent, but I expect the same freight train as in the 14.1 model. I don't know what to say about this. Does it work? Am I really excited? Not really, and why. The sherry provides a good balance and camouflages the intense peat taste that should be there. When the first sip goes down the throat, I get the taste of a matchstick straight down the throat, and for my taste buds, it's just wrong in so many ways. The aftertaste sits right on target, a deliciously rich and tightly packed peat that just lays nicely on the tongue and just flows around in there, but the fear of tasting it a second time is overwhelming and a bit anxiety-inducing.
14.3 214.2 PPM 61.4%
We conclude with 14.3, and I'm actually impressed that the nose is so anonymous when it comes to the peaty scent. I've smelled quite a bit of peated whisky over time, and some are just more significant in the aroma. Octomore has a fantastic ability to not seem too peaty in the scent and yet sweep you off your feet. The peated taste here takes its time. I'm almost on platform 10 at Fredericia station, sensing a steam locomotive in the distance, and before the sound of the train reaches my ears, the train is already there. That's how I feel about this one, oh, it's just so pleasant. Creamy, velvety, elegant, and just really delicious whisky. It has everything such a whisky should have, a delicious taste, good aroma, and just this tingling sensation in the mouth that you can chew on a bit before the second round.
Octomore is and remains incredibly delicious whisky, and they rarely disappoint. However, you have to be a big fan of peated whisky; otherwise, you might find yourself out of your element here, and aging it in sherry casks is not necessarily a good thing. If I were to throw a bottle in the shopping basket, it would definitely be 14.3 because it's just so delicious and complex. If you have a ticket to this year's whisky fair, don't cheat yourselves out of a dram at Octomore.
Sláinte!
