Octomore 8.4

Octomore is Bruichladdich’s highly acclaimed “intensely peated” whisky, with a relatively very high concentration of peat in the base malt. Each year a new series is released in four different variations: x.1 (American Oak/ex-Bourbon), x.2 (European Oak/ex-wine), x.3 (second-fill casks) and x.4 (virgin oak). This is 8.4 from late 2017, which was aged 20% on virgin oak, and 80% on first fill bourbon, then finished on second-fill european virgin oak which previously held Octomore 7.4.

---

Distiller: Bruichladdich
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: 2017
ABV: 58.7%
Age: 8yo
Cask type: 80% first fill Bourbon, 20% virgin American Oak; ex-Octomore finish.
Source: Taster at Bergen Beer and Whisky Festival.
Setting: Unblind.

---

Nose: Floral, heather, intensely earthy. Distant bushfire and citrus. It’s a little shocking how well integrated the peat is here. It doesn’t punch you in the face at all, it mixes in well to create some wonderful floral notes.
Palate: Round, juicy. Stonefruit! Peach and mango. What?!
Finish: And now, it’s past time, and the smoke comes calling. Hot ash, barbecue and… coconut?!
Overall: These are some pretty unique tastes for me. I have to say I’m a sucker for virgin oak, but it really isn’t that pronounced here. Somehow it just transmutes the smoke into flowers, stonefruit and coconut. I don’t know how the hell it works, but this thing is magical.
Rank: 8