Bruichladdich Distillery Launches Octomore Series 16

Bruichladdich Distillery has launched its annual Octomore series, an Islay single malt brand with extremely high PPMs, or peat levels.

Nicknamed by the distillery as “The Impossible Equation,” Octomore is meant to push the boundaries of whisky-making in terms of consumers’ ideas about age, peating levels and near cask-strength ABV.

“Octomore exists to provoke and challenge,” says Bruichladdich Distillery Master Blender Adam Hannett, “something that is on paper so polarising, it shouldn’t really work – it’s too young, too strong and too peaty – hence ‘The Impossible Equation.’ But with each new Octomore expression, the spirit continues to surprise and delight with its depth, its campfire smoke and its incredible flavour profile.”

There are three expressions in Series 16.

Octomore 16.1 is crafted using 100% Scottish Mainland Concerto Barley, malted to 101.4 PPM and aged in cask for five years, with an ABV of 59.3%. This liquid matured in first fill bourbon barrels. Salted caramel, honeyed melon and apricot are followed by chocolate and coconut, the distillery reports, accompanied by a earthy minerality and lingering smoke. Octomore 16.1 is priced at $204.99.

Octomore 16.2 uses the same distillate as the 16.1, has been aged in cask for five years and bottled at 58.1% ABV. The 16.2 has been housed in a selection of Oloroso and Bordeaux casks before being finished in Madeira and Portuguese Moscatel. Caramelized sugar, roasted nuts and dried fruits are enveloped in sweet smoke, the distillery states. This is the first time this combination of casks has been used in an Octomore expression. “We have an unparallelled selection of casks available to us and it’s important to continue to experiment and push boundaries,” Hannett says. Octomore 16.2 is priced at $244.99.

Octomore 16.3 is a showcase of single farm, single field and whisky-making. The archetypal Octomore liquid is produced in its entirety from barley from Octomore Farm. This single malt whisky explores the influence of barley grown exclusively in Church Field on Octomore Farm, Islay. Honeyed malt, toasted grain and earthiness meet smoke and salinity, according to the producer. 16.3 has been aged five years full term in bourbon, sauternes and Pedro Ximénez casks with the Islay barley malted to 189.5 PPM and bottled at 61.6% ABV. Octomore 16.3 is priced at $279.99. “The locally grown and harvested Islay barley takes the spirit in another direction,” says Hannett. “For me, whisky should evoke a sense of place, and the earthy, cereal-forward notes of Octomore 16.3 speak of its island origins.”

Each Octomore single malt Scotch whisky has been conceived, distilled, matured and bottled on Islay. The spirit is un-chill filtered, contains no added color and has been brought to strength using Octomore Spring water from Islay.

Octomore Series 16, including 16.1, 16.2 and 16.3, is available to purchase online and at whisky retailers.

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