Octomore 15.1 vs 15.2 vs 15.3 | Sample Saturday Triple Threat

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

Some clarifications from Bruichladdich: - 15.2: maturation: Distilled in 2018 and originally filled into a combination of second fill wine casks (42%) and second fill bourbon casks (58%). In 2023 the spirit was re-casked into first fill Cognac casks for the remainder of its maturation life. - 15.3 frosted bottle - it’s because the barley only comes from the farm of Octomore, just next to our distillery on Islay - so it’s our way of differentiating it from the other 2 whiskies. It’s the “Octomore of Octomore” in a way.

[@masterdad-zf9po]

‘What a beaut”. That’s Octomore. One of my favourite drams, albeit I haven’t had a .2, yet. I opened a 9.3 a month ago or so with one of my (adult) sons. Amazing stuff. It’s definitely a whisky for sharing

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

Fully agreed, I couldnt hoarde a dram like that to myself

[@NeilImmortal]

Some older bottles were 8-10 years. My fave was 10.2, 8 years old and Sauternes finished. Fabulous. They are all surprisingly delicate for the ppm, probably down to the local barley. Nowadays, I won't pay €150 for 5 year old schnapps 😁

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

They've done some interesting stuff over the years then? Can't say I've ever delved into them really, too expensive for me 😅

[@NeilImmortal]

​@@NoNonsenseWhisky I could say that about many whiskies I used to like 😮

[@sowlegwhiskyreview5501]

This was a fun comparison to watch - cheers🙂

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

Cheers man! 🥃🥃

[@rick371]

from my experience with octomore, they are all, very light on the nose, but an absolute explosion on the palette, so i'm not surprised by your reactions tbh

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

That's the right way round too. Imagine if it was the other way 🤣

[@bobsander4589]

Just got one Octomore in the collection...8.3 which was their peatiest whisky, a 2011 5 year old at 61.2% abv. Got a taste in store (Woodwinters Bridge of Allan) and didn't find it too much. Lovely side by side sample Saturday Vin.

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

Stupid expensive but I love them.

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

That's the issue isn't it 🤣 can't deny it's excellent juice but my god the prices!

[@christinecamley]

Expensive but worth every penny! 🎉

[@christinecamley]

@@NoNonsenseWhiskyWorth every penny!! Love these! I have the 15s! The palette can only pick up so much peat. There’s good research to show anything past 75-80ppm doesn’t register on the palette.

[@christinecamley]

Not sure if 15.1 or 3 is my fave!! LOVE them ALL!!! Love the black colouring in the bottles - looks classy!! Buy backups!! Difficult to get!! IMO these are worth the price! Scotch is pricey. Wish it wasn't. Expensive hobby/love!!

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

Certainly is an expensive hobby!

[@garyk3675]

If you don’t mind my asking Christine - beteen the 15.1 and the new Kilkerran Batch 10 - not considering price. Both Bourbon and peat. Is one a clear favorite?

[@hyperdram]

Be aware that Bruichladdich do not use Islay peat, they use peat from the highlands. I wish that they would do a .3 release with Islay peat as well as Islay barley.

[@robertbrotherton2118]

Tried the octomore range at a show and enjoyed them all. Could not bring myself to spend that kinda money. Kept thinking about how many Port Charlotte 10 i could have, guilt free 🙂

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

Yeah the money is the big turn off for me too. Though they're clearly not struggling to shift them!

[@stebeardX]

Love all Octomore that i have tasted! definitely on my to buy soon list! cheers

[@christinecamley]

The 15.1, 15.2 and 15.3 are all excellent. Love the 1 and 3 the most. Buy every year with new releases of the Octomores. Cheers!!

[@Atthapong15]

I'll definitely try to sample the 15.3 at the next whisky event, but that's that.

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

Hopefully you can find it!

[@Atthapong15]

@NoNonsenseWhisky There's other better-valued peated whiskies out there like you say.

[@blindtomuk]

For years I wasn't into peated whiskies as I had decided when I was 18 that I hated Laphroaig 10. So didn't drink any for years. Then when at a show I tried an octomore and that was me then back on the peat. Still not a massive Laphroaig fan tho. I think I know what you mean about not being able to detect the difference in phenol levels beyond a certain point. I tried the same Octomore range in sequence at the London Whisky Show and when it came to 15.3 I didn't feel it was more peated than the others despite the numbers. I have had a number of whiskies at shows that were annoyingly good when I considered their price. Glen Scotia 25 was like that. Really good but £500.

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

keep at it and come back to the Laphroaig at some point!

[@ryanmercer600]

The.3 are always local barley expressions

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

Interesting!

[@andrewbutler7681]

The only one I've got a bottle of is 6.3, but I have tried quite a few over the years (though not the ones released in the last four or five, I don't think). The .2 bottlings seem to be most variable: sometimes they're great, other times... Two things to bear in mind with the peatiness: they get the barley malted by Bairds of Inverness using Aberdeenshire mainland peat, so not as 'seaweedy' as Islay, and they take much narrower cuts than most of the other distilleries on the island (Laphroaig's may be the widest).

[@davidowen2834]

Hi Vin. Like you, never had a bottle the price has always put me off. As always a good SS video.🥃

[@christinecamley]

Scotch is to be shared - no matter the price! For me anyway! Life is short!

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

Completely agree. All my bottles are open and anyone at my house can have what they like

[@christinecamley]

@@NoNonsenseWhisky Fabulous!! Love this so much Vin!! Have a lovely Sunday!! 🙂

[@BigmanPeat]

Always preferred the .2 in the range. Certainly of the 5 or so that I’ve been lucky enough to do side by sides on. The .3 more often than not been the least favourite.

[@christian_K2308]

The highest ppm level was the 8.3 - 309 ppm. I tried a few Octomore (not the 8.3), and agree - they don't seem to be overly peaty (i.e. as peaty as you would expect given the ppm level). I am not a big peat fan, so not my favourites but peat wise I see them in the same region as other heavily peated Islay whiskies.

[@MortAllachie]

Definitely want to try an Octomore at some point, but the price in Norway. I can get 13.1, 14.1 and 14.2. All priced 142,16 GBP. Not gonna happen. Hope I can find it at a bar. I’m rarely in a bar though 😅

[@nickmarshall8436]

I always go for .2 when I can afford one as that's where the variation really is. Also if you leave your empty Octomore glass for 10 mins then smell it you can really get the vegetal peat. Ash, ripe fruit, and soil. Fun to smell but not tasty.

[@christinecamley]

Acrid! Never got that! I guess I associate acrid with a bad smell.

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

I suppose it does mean unpleasant. Maybe I need a better work to describe what I mean

[@christinecamley]

No worries!! I understand!! 🙂@@NoNonsenseWhisky

[@RebMordechaiReviews]

The 15.2 is rated at 108.2 PPM at the malted barley stage. It comes in a black bottle usually reserved for the X.1 releases, but comes in a brown tin! IMO, the fact that the bottle and tin don't match, cheapens the whole presentation. It just looks wrong and weird. Bad marketing. If you are wondering why this 5.2 isn't red in colour, it's because it was aged in a combo of second-fill white wine and second-fill bourbon casks. Then in a strange move, Bruichladdich decided to finished it in First-fill Cognac casks. Obviously, they weren't happy with initial results. My guess is that the whisky was sour and dry, which would come from non STR treated white wine casks. I've never had a white wine (even a sweet white wine cask) matured whisky which I liked. IMO, it just doesn't work, hence the cognac finish. It's an experiment which didn't work, again IMO. To get the real Octomore experience, stick to the X.1s. The 13.1 is particularly good.