Octomore Orpheus 5 Year Old Edition 2.2

Smoke, rubber, and WOW

Reviewed by
Connosr member:

jasonbstanding

Date:

14th Jan 2011

Reviewer rating:

About this score:

The average score for this whisky is 93.

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Tasting Notes by jasonbstanding

I've been looking forward to trying this Drinks by the Dram bottle from Master of Malt which I picked up, and having found my recent tastings bereft of peat I figured why not try to redress the balance with a dip into Octomore country.

Good lord. With only the PC6 as my yardstick I dove in for a sniff. "Toffee, but threatening". Giving it a bit of time also gave up some soap. I wondered if somehow this wasn't the peaty belter it was promised to be (although was wary of falling for this when trying an Alchemist Port Charlotte a few years back). With water I felt like the alcohol was poking at my nose even harder, although the threat level was lowering, and perhaps a slightly barnyard smell crept in.

Sipping cautiously my first impression was rubber, and then as I exhaled the peat announced its presence. And for minutes, with every breath, a firm reassertion of that peat. But also Some reassuring dark wood and leather, and a very culinary taste which I want to describe as BBQ, but isn't. Reducing gave me a sweeter stewed fruit flavour and scared the peaty brutality back to the ceiling. The aftertaste now delivering the dirty tongue, medicinal and tar flavours.

The finish rolled on like a storm which has passed - you're still wet and can clearly remember the experience, and all you can hear for ages is the thunder receding slowly into the distance.

I'm going to be tasting that well into the weekend. Amazing.

Whisky details

Distillery/Brand:

Bruichladdich

Bottling:

Octomore Orpheus 5 Year Old Edition 2.2

Region:

Islay

ABV:

61%

Colour:

Full Gold

Octomore Orpheus 5 Year Old Edition 2.2 Smoke, rubber, and WOW Reviewed on 2011-01-14T01:28:00 scoring 90/100 by jasonbstanding

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Comments

Jean-Luc wrote:

Very nicely put. I've always been slightly cautious if this whisky, but I guess I should give it a whirl.

14 January 2011 09:01

jdcook wrote:

Sounds fascinating!

14 January 2011 10:02

jasonbstanding wrote:

Jean-Luc: The caution's well-placed, but it is an amazing experience (in my humble opinion!). Make sure it's the last whisky you taste for the next 18 hours or so though.

14 January 2011 17:21

jmende1 wrote:

Very well written review. I want it!

16 January 2011 16:02

tjb wrote:

A great review, well written. This is one for my ever expanding wish list.

04 March 2013 21:30