Octomore 4.2 Comus/167PPM

FOLLOWING ON FROM THE NOW LEGENDARY OCTOMORE ORPHEUS, THE NOW LEGENDARY JIM MCEWAN HAS CREATED ANOTHER LANDMARK OCTOMORE. COMUS WAS THE SON OF BACHHUS [GOD OF WINE AND REVELLING] AND CIRCE, DAUGHTER OF HELIOS THE SUN GOD AND A SORCERESS WHO WOULD BEGUILE THE INNOCENT INTO DRINKING HER MAGIC POTIONS.

"COMUS" WAS A PLAY WRITTEN BY POET JOHN MILTON AND FIRST PERFORMED IN 1634 AT LUDLOW CASTLE, ENGLAND. THE WORK PRESENTS THE DESPERATE BATTLE BY COMUS TO ENSNARE A BEAUTIFUL, INNOCENT GIRL AND THROUGH THE HEDONISTIC POWER OF HIS MAGIC POTIONS - "HIS ORIENT POTIONS IN A CRYSTAL GLASS" - ROB HER OF HER VIRGINITY. A PHILOSOPHICAL DISCOURSE ON THE BATTLE BETWEEN SENSUAL PLEASURE AND PHYSICAL ABANDON, AND REASON AND VIRTUE.

ALL VERY BRUICHLADDICH.

IN THIS OCTOMORE 4.2 "COMUS" WE SEE THIS SAME DUALITY THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN THE BROODING POWER OF THE EXCEPTIONAL OCTOMORE PEAT AND THE SUBLIME ELEGANCE OF CASKS THAT PREVIOUSLY HELD THE WORLD¹S GREATEST SWEET WINE.

HENCE THE WHITE, VIRGINAL, INNOCENT PACKAGING - BUT LIKE OUR HEROINE, DO NOT BE DECEIVED... ALL IS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS.

Tasting Notes

character

Medium weight and well defined for a young Islander. The texture is rich, sweet and mellow and the viscosity of the Sauternes brings balance to the power of the peat. A most sophisticated Octomore - it’s kind of unbelievable to see “The Beast” tamed a little!

colour

Golden Honey/Ripe Barley

nose

The opening is a beautiful combination of peat smoke, bracken, leather, tobacco pouches, bog myrtle & briny waves. Then, little twists of mint toffee enter the system as do the nutty oak notes – both French and American. And so the dance goes on, but where is the French beauty? She waits patiently on the fringes then, at exactly the right moment, she makes her entrance from the epicentre of the spirit, bringing aromatics and flavour the young Ileach can only dream of. From deep in her soul she commits to this amazing relationship, the aromatics relay the message to the waiting taste buds to expect a whole new experience: the raisiny botrytis of the Premier Cru Superieur Sauternes. Its flavours - pear syrup, apricot, candied fruit, guava, passion and citrus fruits leached from the wood. You have to wonder just how surreal this is - a massively peated beast being seduced by a delectably sweet, French beauty – passion changes everything.

palate

It’s supernatural. The taster is taken on an incredible journey of discovery, the coming together of flavours so far removed from each other you would think it would be a disaster. The kaleidoscope of aromatics transcends beautifully onto the palate which is going crazy with excitement: a new sensory solar system.

finish

This love affair should never have happened. This is Bruichladdich walking on the wild side, bringing pleasure and excitement to those who have that sense of adventure and passion. The finish may not last for an eternity - but the experience will.