Whisky : Octomore 4.2 “Comus”

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 61%

Cask : Bourbon, Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes Finish

Age : 5 Years

Nose : Meat, earth, and fruit. An initial impression of an art studio with paper maché and modeling clay, yet lunch beckoned with notes of herbs, beef fat, and chocolate powder. Water brought out more juicy fruits, mint, and sweet chlorinated pool water.

Palate : Medium-bodied with fruit, meat, and chemicals. Earthy charcoal and clay revealed sweet fruity Juicy Fruit gum, spearmint, swimming pool chemicals, and sweet citrusy sangria. Papermaché, canvas, and art studio projects remained in the background as meatier notes appeared at the end.

Finish :  Lingering tropical fruit punch.

Score : 8

Mental Image : Outdoor Art Studio

Notes : An absolutely legendary bottling of Octomore, the 4.2 reminded me strongly of the La Maison du Whisky exclusive Rest & Be Thankful Paulliac cask Octomore. That dram was one of my favorites of all time, and while this had some of the same earthy-art studio notes, it developed with a much more fruity profile. I loved the wide range of sweet earthy notes and the seemingly endless complexity— I only included the high points, but I am sure I could have sat with this and come up with many more superlatives and mental images. It was not hard to see why this is celebrated as one of the best Octomore releases.  

Overall, I loved the earthy notes from the peated malt and the sweet fruit of the Sauternes cask. I would rank the 10.4 a hair above this— their profiles are entirely dissimilar, but 10.4 hit a particular nostalgia for me that this just did not.