Whisky: Octomore 6 Year, Rest & Be Thankful

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 66.3%

Cask: Ex-Bourbon

Age: 6 Years (Distilled 19 March 2008, Bottled 19 Nov. 2014)

Nose: Herbal, maritime, and woody. An overture to the sea; crashing waves sned salt and minerals into the air, driftwood baking in the sun, and beachgrass shimmering on the dunes. Subtle layers of lemon peel and citrus were followed by thyme and rosemary toward an herbal crescendo of menthol, coriander, and lemongrass.   Musical metaphors of pounding surf faded to lemon bundt cake and a Swedish sauna.

Palate: Medium-bodied with bright, crisp flavors of citrus, sea, and herbs. The first sip brought citrusy salted lemon peel, cola, and an underlying herbaceousness. Oaky vanilla faded as herbal notes of tobacco, sage, and thyme lingered on the back palate. A mild creaminess and smoke from a freshly lit charcoal grill became more pronounced at the end with water.

Finish: Lingering notes of citrus, vanilla, and cream.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Does the Sauna allow Snacking?

Notes: Wow, this Octomore was a true citrus blast with tons of delicious maritime, citrusy, and herbal depth. After an incredibly herbal aroma, I was surprised by how restrained those flavors were on the palate. There was only a hint of herbal spice and tobacco on the backend as a lovely cream and charcoal developed. The dram was otherwise incredibly citrus with salt and sea providing excellent contrast.

The Octomore releases from Rest & Be Thankful are superb and expensive. That feels true of Octomore more broadly, with recent releases readily approaching or passing $200. The Rest & Be Thankful Octomore releases have generally been around the same price, which, in my opinion, makes them a comparative bargain. There are few other bottlers with single cask Octomore releases and few of those available through online web stores for a competitive price. I was pleased as punch with the set I shared with friends, and this was one of my favorites.