Happy New Year!
I'll cut to the chase. I was having troubles deciding what to drink to celebrate New Year's Day 2014. Usually I'd want something a little special and, since its been cold and rather humid and snowy lately, something warming. First world problems… I know. So, it finally struck me - Octomore Comus.
People might think Octomore isn't elegant enough or sophisticated enough for this type of occasion but they'd be dead wrong. Here's why: this Octomore is ACE'd in Chateau Yquem sauternes casks which is the most delicate and celebrated sweet/desert wine in the world. Before I tasted this the first time, I thought the super heavy peat - 167 ppm phenols - would really beat up the delicate wine. I was totally wrong.
 |
| Click photo to enlarge |
Colour: Pure gold. Certainly darker than Octomore 4.1 which is really a pale straw.
Nose: Its incredible how not-smokey this is on the nose. I really get wet heather and super ripe fruit with smoke floating through there. I also get sweet white grapes with lemon. The sauternes wine is actually dominating the Octomore peat. Crazy!
Palate: Wow! That is big and thick! The sweet plump grapes on arrival are incredible and the spirit feels so viscous on the tongue. It leads into a big wallop of Islay flavours and smoke. In the big hit the flavours are all mixed though. The texture is incredible. Another sip, then… yeah, we really get nice sauternes character - plump overripe white grapes and soft fruits - and then whoosh into intense, ashy smoke mixed with salt and fruit. As the palate adjusts, its incredible how the intensity comes down and this becomes a finer, more delicate dram with maybe peach and soft pears showing up. It really is juicy.
Finish: the finish is warming with the cheeks flushing and extending into the chest. Interestingly, the flavour doesn't linger quite as long as the unfinished 4.1.
Comments: Its incredible how much the most delicate wine in the world has altered the mighty Octomore spirit. This is exactly why I'm a fan of Octomore and what Bruichladdich have done with it. It can be straight super heavily peaked whisky that is so complex and delicious or be ACE'd in different barrels to make such fine flavours that one would never expect. No matter what, though, it is always a huge experience.
For sure, there is nothing else in the world like this.
No comments:
Post a Comment