“Zwarte Peat is Back”
Whisky Review # 1048
Country: Scotland 🏴
Region: Islay
Brand: Bruichladdich Octomore 12.1 (130.8 PPM) - Distilled: Likely 2015
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Bottled: 2021
Age: Around 5 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 59.9% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon casks
Chill Filtration: No
Maturation: 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon casks
Chill Filtration: No
Average Price: Around US$ 200 (November 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Too expensive for such a young and relatively simple Malt
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Too expensive for such a young and relatively simple Malt
Buying Advice: 😐 Only for the addicted Peatheads among us!
Colour:
Pale Straw/White Wine (Natural Colour)
Nose:
It takes a while for this 12.1 to open up a little so be sure to give it enough time in the glass. The Alcohol is quite strong so better avoid nosing in the middle of the glass. Even after a while the Peat and Smoke make it difficult to identify the other Aromas so you need to be patient with this Bruichladdich. It took me more than an hour to identify the Aromas. The Nose is Sweet but not overly so. It does feel a bit Young and Rough though.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Toasted Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Wax and Yeast, Heavy Smoke, Coastal Peat, Soot Tar, Iodine, Farmyard, Fish and Pork on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Burnt Straw, Wet Rocks and Sand, Green Apple, Banana, Dairy, Bounty Bar, Wet Oak, Iron, Pepper and Aniseed.
Sweet Toasted Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Wax and Yeast, Heavy Smoke, Coastal Peat, Soot Tar, Iodine, Farmyard, Fish and Pork on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Burnt Straw, Wet Rocks and Sand, Green Apple, Banana, Dairy, Bounty Bar, Wet Oak, Iron, Pepper and Aniseed.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Honey, Snickers Candy Bar, Ashes, Hospital, Diesel, Rubber, Leather, Espresso, Dark Chocolate 80%, Musty Cellar, Pear, Pencil Shavings, Licorice, Cloves and a hint of Orange Liqueur.
Honey, Snickers Candy Bar, Ashes, Hospital, Diesel, Rubber, Leather, Espresso, Dark Chocolate 80%, Musty Cellar, Pear, Pencil Shavings, Licorice, Cloves and a hint of Orange Liqueur.
Young, slightly Rough and Bitter-Sweet. The Alcohol is very present at this point. The Peat, Smoke and Burnt notes are in full control. It's a bit of a One Trick Pony and you really need to concentrate to dig out the other Flavours.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Toasted Malt, Burnt Toast, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Heavy Smoke and Peat, Ashes, Soot, Tar, Iodine, Farmyard, Wet Straw and Grass, Smoked Fish and Pork on the BBQ sprinkled with Herbs & Lemon, Green Apple, Orange-Flavoured Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Grapefruit, Pepper, Ginger and Aniseed.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Toffee/Butterscotch, Hospital, Pear, Banana, Dairy, Black Espresso or Tea, Nuts and Nutshells, Peanut Butter, Wet Iron, Plastic, Rubber and Resin.
Finish:
Quite Long but mainly on Peat/Smoke and Burnt notes. Sweet at First but with increasing Bitter notes towards the Dry end. Quite Sharp and Fiery but that's to be expected at almost 60%. I find Sweet Toasted Malt, Salted Caramel, Toffee and Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Burnt Toast, Heavy Smoke, Coastal Peat, Yeast, Wet Mud, Ashes, Soot, Tar, Fish & Pork on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon & Herbs, Farmyard, Wet Rocks and Sand, Dairy, Green Apple, Pear, Grapefruit, Bounty Bar, Wet Oak, Wet Iron, Plastic, Espresso, Pepper, Ginger, Aniseed and this intriguing note that reminds me of eating Crepes Suzette in a Hospital.
Drinking Advice:
I added a little Water and strangely enough that practically kills the Nose. Almost like Peated Water used in the distilling process. It softens up the Palate and Finish of course but does not improve both. At almost 60% you would expect that added Water would improve the 12.1 but that's not the case. I prefer it neat.
Drinking Experience Neat: Good but quite one-dimensional
Drinking Advice:
I added a little Water and strangely enough that practically kills the Nose. Almost like Peated Water used in the distilling process. It softens up the Palate and Finish of course but does not improve both. At almost 60% you would expect that added Water would improve the 12.1 but that's not the case. I prefer it neat.
Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)
Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7.5
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Conclusion:
Bruichladdich was founded in 1881 by Barnett Harvey. During its history it was mothballed various times, the last time in 1998. In 2012 the Islay distillery was bought by Remy Cointreau (France). Since, Bruichladdich is showing a healthy growth again. The distillery produces 3 types of Single Malt, i.e. the unpeated Bruichladdich & the heavily peated Port Charlotte & Octomore. The basic core range includes the Classic Laddie and a 10-year old Port Charlotte. The annual production amounts to around 1.1 million litres. About 10% of that is Octomore. Octomore means " The Big Eighth". This is a medieval division of common ground.
The Octomore 12.1 was made with Scottish Barley. It's not really a bad Octomore but it is one of the less exciting ones I've tasted. It is totally dominated by Peat & Smoke and it's really hard to detect other Aromas and Flavours below this Cloud of Smoke. If you like that by all means go for it although the price tag is hefty. But if you're looking for a smoky but balanced Octomore, the 12.1 is not for you.
Cheers!
Jan van den Ende November 27, 2024
All pictures were taken during our visit in May 2014
