Octomore 02.2 Orpheus Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 5 Year Old · 2004 Vintage

Colour

Rich amber-gold with coppery highlights and a touch of mahogany, glowing with sherried warmth.

Nose

Towering peat smoke swirls with sea-salt and iodine, a mineral, coastal spine anchoring the aroma. Sherry-cask warmth threads through—dark chocolate, dried fig, plum and caramelized sugar—spun with orange zest and vanilla. A bracing, resinous note lingers, keeping the bouquet razor-sharp and exhilarating.

Palate

An eruption of peat and smoke coats the palate, layered with charred barley, vanilla sweetness, and citrus zest. Briny sea-air and iodine mingle with smoked meat notes; mouthfeel is full and voluptuous, with a medicinal spine. At 61%, peppery spices—cinnamon and white pepper—rise through a long, drying finish, leaving mineral, ash-tinted sweetness and a kiss of maritime brine.

Finish

Long and maritime, the finish trails peat, iodine and sea-salt over a warming, peppery core, with a final kiss of oak and subtle vanilla that lingers into a smoky afterglow.