George Bernard Shaw was definitely on to something here with this famous quote - apart from its stunning golden-amber colour being remarkably like distilled sunlight in a bottle, a good dram definitely has the potential to brighten one's day in the darkest times.
amidst the gloomy clouds of the phase 2 heightened alert stay-home restrictions, i was immensely grateful for these twin rays of liquid sunshine, a generous cheer-up gift delivered to my doorstep by a close friend about a week and a half ago.
i've shared many special experiences with this friend along my whisky journey, and with all the tastings we've been to, i would daresay my friend knows my whisky preferences even better than i do.
good whisky by itself can be rare (and pricey) but a pour that's been thoughtfully chosen as a present takes the sentiment and enjoyment to a whole different level altogether.
plus, strong smoky whisky is a comfort go-to for me, so i knew right from the start that i would really love both of these.
the Carn Mor Ben Nevis 2015 (6-year-old Strictly Limited) is a fantastic peated sherry bomb, and Bruichladdich's «Octomore» range is well-known for being one of the peatiest around.
i knew from the start that these strong smoky whiskies were going to be right up my alley, but i didn't expect that both of them would raise the bar so much.
i decided to start with the Carn Mor Ben Nevis 2015 (6-year-old Strictly Limited) - a fantastic peated sherry bomb at 47.5% abv.
on the nose, this is an interesting combination of rugged meaty barbecue smoke over soft leather and tempered by the sweetness of butterscotch and chocolate. the peat is unquestionably the main star of the show, but without being overpowering.
on the palate, it's as if a powerful smoke bomb has detonated in the mouth. pepper, ashy wood and a farmy underlying funk dominate, though over time more complexity shines through with the inclusion of some red fruits and a hint of sweet butterscotch. these linger briefly before slowly fading into a slightly bitter woodiness and the barest tinge of peppery smoke on the finish, which was a tad shorter than i would have wanted with this level of smoke.
all the Carn Mor bottlings i've tried so far have been superb, and this is no exception. an amazing whisky that i'm glad to have had the opportunity to try (and wouldn't pass up the occasional dram of every once in a while), but not something i can see myself drinking often enough to take the plunge on a full bottle.
strong smoky whisky is a comfort go-to for me, and Bruichladdich's «Octomore» range is well-known for being one of the peatiest around.
malted to 139.6 ppm (phenol parts per million), the «11.1 edition» (59.4% abv) packs an intensely peaty punch. on the nose, this is a deliciously smoky honey-barbecued rack of ribs glistening with an orange-vanilla glaze, with the peat being powerfully assertive but not aggressive.
on the palate, the robust meatiness transforms into a fantastic dessert, with a complex combination of vanilla honey, baked apple and red fruits, all served over charred wood and enveloped in the same amazing smokiness.
a fabulous bottle that's on the higher end of my usual drams price-wise, but definitely well worth it in value. after trying this sample, i loved it so much that i took the plunge on getting a full bottle, and am going to enjoy this one for a good long while.
as always, stay safe and drink responsibly!
this review is of gifts received second-hand (not from the brand). i wasn’t asked to review these as a condition of receipt and didn’t receive any incentives for writing this. i’m not affiliated with Carn Mor, Ben Nevis or Bruichladdich, and as always, all opinions remain my own.
all information correct at time of publishing.
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