Back during the first year of the pandemic (let’s hope I don’t need to go back and specify which pandemic at some point), I decided to split a bunch of whisky bottles I had been eyeing with friends. This was the last of those whiskies and my favorite, which is why it took so long to finally do a review of it.

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Whisky: Octomore 7 Year (2008), Rest & Be Thankful Cask 2008000908

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 63.9%

Cask: French Oak

Age: 7 Years (Distilled 19 March 2008, Bottled 6 May 2015)

Notes: Earthy and woody, like a baseball dugout during the summer, with hints of chewing tobacco, splintered wood, leather, dried grass, and sweat. Grass stains carried on to wispy grill smoke and charred meat, which gradually faded as walnut buns and chocolate cake arrived. Full-bodied, the flavor profile brought a touch of maritime brine to a horse pasture and distant mud baths. Horse blankets and hay lingered behind a pasture-like earthy funk. Walnut pastries and dark chocolate appeared again with more dried grass and grill smoke coming in behind this time.  The finish was long and earthy with dried grass, fruits, and hints of barnyard funk.

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Score: 8 (88)

Mental Image: Mr. Ed’s Little League Team

Conclusion: These old Rest & Be Thankful Octomore and Port Charlotte releases contain so much of the wild and distinctive qualities of the spirit in the early 2000s.  I find the malt tamer now and less prone to some of the barnyard or pasture funk that were once defining characteristics. This single cask Octomore had plenty of earth and barn to it, with a mellow smoke— the flavors were not terribly complex, but they were well-defined.  The whisky was remarkably easy to drink considering the high abv. Overall, a wonderful whisky— especially if, like me, you enjoy something with an earthy funk to it.