Bruichladdich – Octomore 7.2 5 Year Old (70cl, 58.5%)

Octomore 7.2 is a five-year-old single malt from Bruichladdich on Islay, bottled at 58.5% in a 70cl bottle. It is peated to 208 ppm and matured in a marriage of first-fill ex-bourbon casks and French Syrah red wine casks. It is non-chill-filtered and of natural colour. The nose is herbal and meaty, with wood-smoked pork, sea salt, liquorice, dried herbs, golden barley and red berries, turning to buttery pastry, vanilla and smoked bacon. The palate starts soft, fruity and sweet before spicy, ashy smoke builds, with chewy toffee, red berries and hints of iodine. The finish is long, with earthy peat, spicy smoke, dried berries, vanilla and slight wine tannins.