Octomore 17.3 brings the story home to Islay. Made from Concerto barley grown exclusively in Irene’s Field at Octomore Farm, just two miles from Bruichladdich Distillery, this is a wonderfully traceable single malt with a genuine sense of place. Peated to a formidable 132.1 PPM, it was matured for five years in first-fill bourbon barrels and second-fill European oak casks that had previously held Ribera del Duero, Sauternes, Eiswein and Syrah. Coastal, tarry peat smoke meets warm malt, salted caramel, orchard fruit, lemon peel, vanilla and toasted coconut, with a fresh mineral edge keeping the whisky lively and precise. At 60.9%, it carries some serious muscle, but the sweetness, citrus and maritime salinity hold everything together beautifully. Big peat, fascinating casks and Islay-grown barley, all behaving far better together than they probably should.

Octomore is Bruichladdich’s ongoing exploration of just how far peat can be pushed without losing elegance, balance or character. Distilled on Islay and released in limited annual editions, these whiskies arrive with formidable PPM figures, youthful age statements and plenty of natural strength, yet there is far more going on here than smoke for smoke’s sake. Beneath the peat lies a surprisingly graceful spirit, filled with sweetness, fruit, texture and coastal freshness. Each series plays with different combinations of barley provenance and cask maturation, giving every release its own distinct personality. Bold, unconventional and frequently surprising, Octomore is serious whisky that never takes the conventional route

700mL | 60.9%ABV