A highly anticipated moment for whisky fans across the globe, Bruichladdich Distillery has launched its next Octomore series. The 15th annual release of the coveted, super-heavily peated single malt Scotch whisky, the latest expressions continue to defy conventional whisky wisdom.
Self-proclaimed the ‘Impossible Equation’, the experimental trio of bottlings deliberately provoke questions. Based on credentials alone, the spirit is too young (with the core range consistently bottled at five years old), too strong, and too heavily peated to have any liquid credibility, but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
Bruichladdich Distillery Head Distiller, Adam Hannett, says “It is purposely designed to spark intrigue and prove the unimaginable. Based on the liquid profile alone this should be a one dimensional, overly-peated Islay single malt Scotch whisky with no depth, but we’ve created the opposite. This is a whisky that is layered and complex, there’s nothing else like it. Creating a brand new Octomore series each year which is unique and distinct is a welcomed challenge. It is a moment to pause, reflect, question, and keep pushing. Who knows what will come next.”
The 15th series signifies another landmark moment in Octomore history, with the 15.3 coming in at a stratospheric 307.2 phenol parts per million (PPM). Distilled using locally grown and harvested Islay barley and bottled at cask strength (61.3% ABV), the latest release is second only to the renowned Octomore 8.3 in terms of extreme phenol content, with the 8.3 believed to be the most heavily-peated spirit in the world to date at 309PPM.
“Our Islay barley works exceptionally well with high phenol levels, and Octomore 15.3 balances intense peat smoke with our cereal forward, malt-sugar spirit”, continues Adam Hannett. “The goal is never to intentionally create the most super-heavily peated single malt whisky in the world, but rather an extraordinary dram which demonstrates the perfect alchemy of peat, maturation, barley varietal and cask type. And that’s Octomore 15.3 for me.”
Lifting the curtain on the latest series is Octomore 15.1. Considered the ‘backbone’ of the experiment, 15.1 demonstrates the intricate balance of intense smoke, cask type and spirit which underpins the rest of the Octomore range. In line with the B Corp distillery’s sustainable credentials, the spirit has matured in a combination of first fill bourbon barrels and reused and re-charred ex bourbon casks – mindfully breathing new life into these casks and extracting as much character from the wood as possible.
Distilled from 100% Scottish barley, bottled at 59.1% ABV and malted to 108.2 PPM, Octomore 15.1 is a raw and uncompromising single malt. Caramel, vanilla custard and sweet malt are immediate on the nose, followed by a medley of mango, banana, and apricot jam on the palate–all wrapped in a blanket of earthy peat smoke.
Octomore 15.2 invites an intriguing comparison to its 15.1 counterpart, laying bare the profound effect cask type has on the final liquid. Distilled from the same batch of Scottish grown barley and also malted to 108.2 PPM, the 15.2 crucially uses a specific combination of second fill wine and second fill bourbon casks, with the spirit finished in first fill Cognac casks.
This unique trifecta of quality oak adds layers of complexity. Bottled at 57.9% ABV, citrus fruits balance Octomore’s signature peat smoke on the nose, with smooth vanilla custard and caramel coating the palate. A crack of black pepper juxtaposes the viscous sweetness, while a subtle maritime quality lingers.
Octomore 15.3 completes the experimental trio, with the heavy-weight 307.2 PPM bringing a phenomenal force of flavour. As well as formidable peat levels, the 15.3 has been distilled from variable harvests from a single farm on Islay, showcasing incomparable flavour, provenance, and traceability. Grown and harvested on the eponymous Octomore Farm, less than two miles from the distillery, Octomore 15.3 has matured in a combination of first fill bourbon casks and first fill Oloroso hogsheads from Ferando de Castilla, Jerez, Spain.
Bottled at 61.3%, the single malt whisky is high strength but exceptionally soft in texture. Smoked cinder toffee and rich malted barley sugar are notable on the nose, with the spirit’s smooth character punctuated with dried fruit and sweet orange zest. Octomore’s inimitable peat smoke settles on the finish, with coconut adding a delicate freshness. Each Octomore single malt Scotch whisky has been conceived, distilled, matured, and bottled only on Islay. The spirit is un-chill filtered and contains no added colour.
