Jim McEwan Signature Collection 3.3, Octomore 2014, 6 year old, First Fill Bourbon Barrel, 64.7%

Jim McEwan Signature Collection 3.3, Octomore 2014, 6 year old, First Fill Bourbon Barrel, 64.7%

Distilled on (remember, remember) the 5th November 2014 this whisky spent its whole 6-year life maturing in cask #5390. Peated to a massive 139.5PPM this spirit has maturation in a 1st Fill Jim Beam bourbon barrel.

Established in 1795, in central Kentucky, Jim Beam Distillery is still working to the original values of its founder some seven generations later. The world’s number one bourbon, they mature casks for four years imparting flavour and sweetness, not only to their spirit, but eventually influencing many of the Scotch whiskies which we enjoy.

Bottled in June 2021 as Release 3.3 of the Jim McEwan Signature Collection, like all bottlings within the collection, it was bottled un-chill filtered, with no added colour, and at natural cask strength of 64.7% (Jim would have it no other way!), it yielded only 235 bottles.

Jim’s tasting notes;

Colour - Clover Honey

Nose & Palate - No mistaking where this beauty comes from; The smoke rises from the glass like mist from Lochindaal with a gentle Atlantic overture. Then the charred oak follows bringing caramelised oak sugars and a host of spices, lemon & honey and a manageable amount of salty sea breeze with understated power.

On the palate the briny / peat character plays the lead in a way that doesn’t overshadow the maltiness, nuttiness or gentle fruits. The mid palate is opulent and shows just a quick fiery flash off heat. The keynote speaker in the aftertastes is definitely the peat and the sea breeze. A superlative Islay malt that delivers the Octomore message with style.

Finish - The flavours linger on for hours like an outgoing tide. This is it, nothing can compare!!