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ncie one Vin! Obviously I didn't have this but I had a similar on with the same designed label a single Moscatel cask with heather smoke single malt which was very nice and unique. Cheers!
The 15.2 is rated at 108.2 PPM at the malted barley stage. It comes in a black bottle usually reserved for the X.1 releases, but comes in a brown tin! IMO, the fact that the bottle and tin don't match, cheapens the whole presentation. It just looks wrong and weird. Bad marketing. If you are wondering why this 5.2 isn't red in colour, it's because it was aged in a combo of second-fill white wine and second-fill bourbon casks. Then in a strange move, Bruichladdich decided to finished it in First-fill Cognac casks. Obviously, they weren't happy with initial results. My guess is that the whisky was sour and dry, which would come from non STR treated white wine casks. I've never had a white wine (even a sweet white wine cask) matured whisky which I liked. IMO, it just doesn't work, hence the cognac finish. It's an experiment which didn't work, again IMO. To get the real Octomore experience, stick to the X.1s. The 13.1 is particularly good.
For years I wasn't into peated whiskies as I had decided when I was 18 that I hated Laphroaig 10. So didn't drink any for years. Then when at a show I tried an octomore and that was me then back on the peat. Still not a massive Laphroaig fan tho. I think I know what you mean about not being able to detect the difference in phenol levels beyond a certain point. I tried the same Octomore range in sequence at the London Whisky Show and when it came to 15.3 I didn't feel it was more peated than the others despite the numbers. I have had a number of whiskies at shows that were annoyingly good when I considered their price. Glen Scotia 25 was like that. Really good but £500.
Fun duo to review those mysterious-not so mysterious "Japanese" blended whiskies....(I said "not so" because I'll draw almost the same conclusion as you about the provenance...and I'll add surely more grain than malt too (hence the pricing, as you said). Cheers !
‘What a beaut”. That’s Octomore. One of my favourite drams, albeit I haven’t had a .2, yet. I opened a 9.3 a month ago or so with one of my (adult) sons. Amazing stuff. It’s definitely a whisky for sharing
Great as always sahame i missed it live. I follow some other channels that do create alot if content yo get ahead but they deal woth music and gaming. Whisky has aparticular issue with trying that approach.
My first impression of was theres too much going on but once i got past that it was a real cracker. The sibsciption has gone up but still great value, think this months delivery has been the best one yet its almost like dan is a mind reader.
I really enjoyed this bottle. Got a little left. Not normally a smokey fan but this was an in between dram. Lovely and something I wouldn’t have purchased if not for Summerton.
Although I have the 2013 release this whisky knocked my socks off. I am still a huge fan of the 15 but this one steps it up and really gives you a sense of the full bodied spirit oof Benromach. These 2 expressions will ALWAYS be part of my collection. Well done Benromach and thank you Vin.
I think you win the "Whisky Explorer of the Year" award. I'm amazed at the breadth of distilleries you review. The notes on this one are typical of older whiskies in my experience so I found it interesting in a 4 year old. Thanks for another great review, Vin. Cheers.
Be aware that Bruichladdich do not use Islay peat, they use peat from the highlands. I wish that they would do a .3 release with Islay peat as well as Islay barley.
I actually got this one from Vinted. But only because I will never put liquid in it. If you search for 1litre casks there are loads available from all over the place (though I will say they are not suitable for reliably aging product)
Looking forward to (hopefully) trying this one. I hear you on the shout about sherried scotch. My most disappointing whiskey of the year was Springbank 15. Maybe I just got a bad batch but it was an absolute sulphur bomb!
Really interesting to hear about the complexities of producing the content you guys churn out. As a watcher, I have issues in finding the time to watch all the great videos so limit it to you Vin, jeff whisky, roy aqvuvitae, ralfy, jim (whisky novice) and then a fewvad hockey ones. Seldom able to watch the live stream so have to catch up on replay like I've done with this one. Always find them interesting so keep up the excellent work and dedication 👏.
Did the Japanese distilleries have to sell off the stocks they owned that weren't distilled in Japan or were blended with distillate not aged in Japan when the law changed?
Clarification: In the video I state that this is the 3rd release in the Cask Exploration range when it is in fact the 7th. Other releases include MRC:01, MC:01, OLC:01, PAC:01, SC:01 and PMC:01
Good catch on that info. I wondered because I remembered at least the PAC and after looking it up, their website description of PMC says that's sixth. The others aren't currently listed but that's good to get them all. Yes, PM = Pomerol. The S was Sauternes. PA = Pessac-Léognan. OL = Oloroso Sherry. M = Marsala. MR = Mouton Rothschild
@@NoNonsenseWhisky and for the record ... CC:01 was one of the first of the series (even before the " ugly betty bottles" ) CC being cognac cask. Slàinte mhath
@@NoNonsenseWhisky They have to be a bit careful in how they label in relation to the French winemakers. Apparently they were a bit more cavalier in they naming approach in the past and legal avenues were followed.
No Japanese in the collection and probably only had a dram once or twice. Not really my jam given the lack of provenance and high prices for these. Great to hear your thoughts though as more experienced practitioners.
Like seeing Mac and you doing a video together. Can’t be Japanese whisky for that money, can it!!. Still the main thing is that it tastes good. Slàinte to you both 🥃
Some older bottles were 8-10 years. My fave was 10.2, 8 years old and Sauternes finished. Fabulous. They are all surprisingly delicate for the ppm, probably down to the local barley. Nowadays, I won't pay €150 for 5 year old schnapps 😁
Tried the octomore range at a show and enjoyed them all. Could not bring myself to spend that kinda money. Kept thinking about how many Port Charlotte 10 i could have, guilt free 🙂
from my experience with octomore, they are all, very light on the nose, but an absolute explosion on the palette, so i'm not surprised by your reactions tbh
Not sure if 15.1 or 3 is my fave!! LOVE them ALL!!! Love the black colouring in the bottles - looks classy!! Buy backups!! Difficult to get!! IMO these are worth the price! Scotch is pricey. Wish it wasn't. Expensive hobby/love!!
If you don’t mind my asking Christine - beteen the 15.1 and the new Kilkerran Batch 10 - not considering price. Both Bourbon and peat. Is one a clear favorite?
The only one I've got a bottle of is 6.3, but I have tried quite a few over the years (though not the ones released in the last four or five, I don't think). The .2 bottlings seem to be most variable: sometimes they're great, other times... Two things to bear in mind with the peatiness: they get the barley malted by Bairds of Inverness using Aberdeenshire mainland peat, so not as 'seaweedy' as Islay, and they take much narrower cuts than most of the other distilleries on the island (Laphroaig's may be the widest).
Definitely want to try an Octomore at some point, but the price in Norway. I can get 13.1, 14.1 and 14.2. All priced 142,16 GBP. Not gonna happen. Hope I can find it at a bar. I’m rarely in a bar though 😅
I always go for .2 when I can afford one as that's where the variation really is. Also if you leave your empty Octomore glass for 10 mins then smell it you can really get the vegetal peat. Ash, ripe fruit, and soil. Fun to smell but not tasty.
Just got one Octomore in the collection...8.3 which was their peatiest whisky, a 2011 5 year old at 61.2% abv. Got a taste in store (Woodwinters Bridge of Allan) and didn't find it too much. Lovely side by side sample Saturday Vin.
