Bruichladdich Octomore 2_140

$129.99 from Vintage Cellars. 62.5%. Aged 5 Years.

The Bruichladdich distillery was founded in 1881 by three brothers of the name Harvey whose family owned two other distilleries in Glasgow. They built a very modern distillery at the time which was in contrast to the others already established on Islay. It has changed hands a few times but in July 2012 was purchased by Remy Cointreau. Bruichladdich produce quite a wide range of whiskies and are known for their experimentation. Their X4 is quadruple distilled and apart from drinking it they use is to fuel their Islay race cars! The Octomore range is their peatiest, and this 2_140 is of their second batch and has a peat smoke phenol level of 140 parts per million. Since its release it has been surpassed only by the two following releases of Octomore (152ppm and 167ppm).

Tastings from 04/09/12 - SMAC Session #5 (PEAT MONSTERS)

Asterisk denotes preference of neat or with water.

NEAT

Gavin
Nose: I can picture myself standing next to a BBQ in summer with Steaks and Sausages being cooked right beside me. It has the most amazing Hickory Pork Rib Sauce smell, with hints of Sweet Plum, Smoked Paprika and Nutmeg spice. Some Iodine is evident but smells a little sweet. Surprisingly however there is no real peat smoke character (which you might expect from one of the peatiest whiskies in the world).
1st: Finally the Peat shows its face and it is actually quite pleasant. It is enhanced by the taste of Smoked Fish.
2nd: The Fishy taste becomes Smoked Salmon more specifically and a really big Saltiness appears.
3rd: The finish is bold and Burns with Cinnamon Spice down the throat but not into the stomach. There is a delicious sweetness of Caramelised Brown Sugar and Orange Peel that gives way to a lingering Smoke and big Pepper.
Brad *
Nose: Hickory Sauce, Cherry, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Green Grass, Caramelised Plums, Light Iodine.
1st: Citrus (Red Grapefruit), Moss
2nd: Caramel, Cherry
3rd: Hickory Smoke, Orange Zest, Cinnamon Sugar, Earthy
Meagan
Nose: Caramelised Plum Sauce
Palate: Like biting into a Citrus fruit (Orange Peel).
Finish: Caramelised Brown Sugar, Pepper
Joel
Nose: Smokey BBQ, Moth Balls, Sugar Syrup
Palate: Cinnamon and Pepper finish
Dan *
Nose: BBQ Pork Sauce, Oak, Faint Iodine, Lemon Zest, Plumb, Caramel, Egg
1st: Sweet
2nd: Butter
3rd: Nutmeg, Paprika, Salt, Jerusalem Artichoke, Cinnamon
Cam
Overall: Strong Citrus Smoke, Orange
Josh
Nose: Smokey Cigar, Steven Seagal, Antique Store, the Black Forest
1st: Orange, Cherry Kirsch, Orange Cordial
2nd: Vanilla, Sea
3rd: Smoke, Ash
Tristan *
Nose: If you like Smoky American BBQ Pork Ribs, you will love this! It seriously reminded everyone at the table of those succulent sticky ribs. In underneath that beautiful aroma it had quite a 'brown'ness to it, with Nutmeg, Butter and reminded me a bit of a Caramel Latte, and even further hidden in this complex nose was just a hint of the Iodine that is so common with Islay Scotches. After tasting the Scotch, the Cinnamon really starts to dominate the nose, however whether that is just after my nose got so used to the smoky BBQ ribs or not, I am not sure.
1st: Immediately apparent was the Thickness of the Scotch, it really stuck to the tongue (in comparison to the Supernova that was so ephemeral)
2nd: After a bit of a swirl in the mouth to unlock the flavours trapped in the stickiness, I found it really fills out in flavour which contained a fair bit of Orange Peel and some Cinnamon from the nose (which became more pronounced on the second mouthful)
3rd: It really isn't until the third palate that the Peats come through, but boy do they! And matching them in a race to satiate you taste buds is a nice dose of Smoke. These stick around for a bit and after a time say goodbye to leave you with some lingering vapours that are still surprisingly intense considering how late they enter the taste game.
Overall: A delicious dram, so big and complex. Very well rounded and well crafted, I could drink this all night! With a thicker mouthfeel and heavier Peats than the Supernova, this was definitely my favourite of the two.

WITH A SPLASH OF WATER

Gavin *
Nose: Where the Peat was missing before it has now been brought forward to the nose by adding a drop of water. This smells more like I was expecting! (Although the Peat doesn't overpower). It is noticeably Smokey, like a Smoked Fish with a touch of Sweet Paprika. Amongst this Peat and Smoke however the predominant character here is a Green, Earthy one: Eucalyptus Leaves, Menthol, Grass.
1st: The first impressions here are very brash with a deliciously huge mouthfeel and powerful Peatiness.
2nd: Smoked Fish comes through giving an appropriate Maritime feel to it.
3rd: This turns to Seaweed, before surprising me by leaving the aftertaste of an American IPA - big Grapefruit and Pine characters of Cascade and Simcoe hops. The Cinnamon Burn is still here too, but fainter now, overshadowed by the Hoppy Zing.
Brad
Nose: Menthol, Smokey, Hazelnut, Smoked Fish
1st: Honey
2nd: Cinnamon
3rd: Smokey Finish, Salt, Pepper
Meagan *
Nose: Nutty Spread
Palate: Dried Mixed Herbs, Slightly Smokey finish
Joel *
Nose: Vicks, Bourbon, Salt
Palate: Salt Water
Finish: Mixed Dried Herbs
Dan
Nose: Menthol, Deep Heat, Window Cleaner
1st: Pine Needles, Bolognese with Cheese
2nd: Nutella, Cinnamon
3rd: Rubber, Ants, Moist Cardboard
Cam *
Nose: Floral
Palate: Smokey, Bonfire
Josh *
Nose: Woodchips, freshly Oiled Axe, Orange
1st: Vitamins, Burnt Orange, Molasses, Hospital Gown
Finish: Menthol, Smoke, Oil, Paprika
Tristan
Nose: That delicious smoky BBQ smell completely disappears with the addition of even a drop of water, and instead reminded me a bit of Biro/Sharpie, Eucalyptus, Nutella/Hazelnut Spread (which is more apparent if your nose isn't buried in the glass) and Pine. The Cinnamon was also there, but no where near as apparent as when neat.
1st: Somehow, the addition of water makes this more ephemeral, but does not diminish the Thick Sticky mouthfeel too much either.
2nd: An early vamping up of the Smoke really hits you, especially after one or two mouthfuls. Hidden underneath is a very Tart Marmalade, perhaps like English Marmalade or Grapefruit.
3rd: I associated the third palate with Dr. Pepper, but not quite. A similar taste, but I wasn't quite happy definitively saying it. There are also flavours reminiscent of Dried Mixed Herbs (the premixed ones with Basil, Oregano, etc) and a Tar-like flavour as well.
Overall: More Molassesey, with a Thinner mouthfeel, I much prefer this one neat. There is also an overall Sweet Iodine flavour throughout, and by that I mean not straight iodine, but like when they try to cover up Antiseptic with Sweet smells for children.