Bruichladdich Octomore 7.1 Scottish Barley (59,5%)

The Bruichladdich Octomore 7.1 Scottish Barley, also called Ochdamh-mór 7.1, is a travel retail release in the famous Octmore series by Bruichladdich. This Islay single malt is 5 years old and matured in American oak casks. It was bottled in 2015 at natural cask strength of 59,5% ABV, non chill filtered with no added colour but a PPM of 208.

Nose: initially the nose is sea spray and caramel, lemon balm and pipe tobacco. Slowly, the peat smoke rises from the glass, gentle but strong lifting vanilla, mint, toffee, golden syrup and almond. Peach follows with pear syrup and buttercup. A symphony, a delight to experience

Palate: Wow! Smoothness, sweetness and then smoke. A texture like no other, satin soft and devilishly warming. The American oak influence is in perfect tune with the smoke and soft fruits delicately, skilfully coaxed from the still during exceptionally slow distillation. Vanilla, honey, citrus rise up to be met with sea spray and leather, smoked mussels mix with autumn bracken and crème brûlée

Finish: as the sweetness from  the oak fades the salt comes to the fore one last time while the gentle peat smoke steady and true grows and outlasts all else