I purchased this bottle way back in 2019 while passing through Osaka.  I have jotted down notes for it many times of the years, but as I have rarely been in the mood to pour it, I have infrequently brought it out of the closet. Some of that is down to the opaque nature of the bottle, I never see the contents and think: wow, I have hardly had this, I should try a pour; or, wow, that bottle is almost empty, I better pour some. Here we are though, I have no idea if the bottle is almost empty or not, but it felt like time to finally push these notes.

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Whisky: Octomore 8.2 “Ochdamh-mor”

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 58.4%

Cask: Mourvedre, Sauternes, Amarone Wine

Age: 8 Years (Distilled 2008, Bottled 2017)

Notes: A table side grill experience— Korean barbecue with meats, sweet marinades, sauces, and cheese caramelizing on a hot grill. Pepper paste and hints of fermented soy bean careened into burdock tea and smoldering hardwood charcoal as the image stuck. Beechwood, millefois cake and sweet milky coffee drinks gestured toward dessert. Medium-bodied and syrupy on the palate, with the sweet, salty caramelization of meat tossed on a grill that was too hot— a bit of charred, slightly burned fat and quickly caramelizing sauce. Brownie edge pieces and a tinge of acrid grill smoke lingered with peppercorns, white pepper, and a touch of menthol. Grapefruit and citrus hid around the edges, cloaked in slightly bitter chocolate and burned fat.  The finish was long with chocolate, citrus, and charred wood.

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Score: 7 (83)

Mental Image: KBBQ Happy Hour

Conclusion: This never tickled my fancy in the way I wanted, and I vastly overpaid for it; $210 at Duty Free when it could, and still can, be found for cheaper. As a result, I still feel lukewarm about the whisky, even if I gained a much greater appreciation for it during this series of Octomore reviews— especially on the second round of tastings I did. The lesson here seems to be that I prefer my Octomore in French Oak.

As to the whisky, it had a wonderful balance between sweet and savory qualities, with none of the really candied phenolic elements or spirit that detracted me on others. There was not a lot of depth, but I reckon that is not why people seek out Octomore.