Octomore 13.1 Peated Single Malt Whisky 700ml

The .1 can be polarising. Nothing can be hidden in an ex-bourbon cask - the spirit needs to shine alongside that ever so gentle touch of vanillin and oak that the wood offers. Octomore 13.1 does this exceptionally well.

Golden sand to the eye the nose begins with sweet nutty smoke, loaded with barley sugar and ripe fruit. Syrupy apricot and ripe pear along with malty vanilla notes of barley flour, Crème Brûlée and honey. The peat smoke is delicate but powerful and brings out boot polish, leather and earthy notes.

The palate is viscous with the feeling of densely smoked grain coming through like smoked granola with honeyed fruit. Smoked apricot jam, barley flour, peat embers and burnt heather balanced with citrus and sweet Turkish delight. Sugared almonds with spicy aniseed comes toward the finish.

On the finish the sweetness fades and an earthy, mossy note remains wrapped in dry heathery peat smoke. Salty-citrus and floral notes come through to round off another wonderful expression of the Octomore paradox.