Expert Review

Colour: liquid gold Nose: golden syrup, smoke and red berry fruits to begin. The gentle smoke weaves through poached pear and apple pie from the distillation with the ripe fruits from the cask, red berries peach and apricot. As you inhale deeper delicate floral notes unclouded by the smoke are released, heather, lilies and Orange blossom. Palate: the combination of sweet fruits and smoke is classic octomore. Huge levels of peat sit in perfect balance with the flavours released from the cask. Add a drop or two of water and we get cherry, bramble, strawberry from the syrah casks; cinder toffee, brown sugar, honey and crème brulee from the american oak burst through. You can feel and taste the rewards of our patience - slow, trickle distillation provides the soft silky texture that coats your Mouth and releases wave after wave of the soft fruit and floral fragrance. Finish: as lemon zest, red fruit and vanilla oak fades away the deep smoke lingers, a potent reminder of the strength and character of islay.