Islay-based distillery Bruichladdich hopes to enrapture peat freaks with the launch of its Octomore 15 Series, a trio of super smoky whiskies. The collection has been matured for five years, and explores the nuances of barley provenance and cask types, with escalating peat levels.
Head Distiller Adam Hannett describes Octomore as an “experiment” designed to go beyond conventional boundaries. “Based on 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,” says Hannett.
The Octomore 15.1, Octomore 15.2, and Octomore 15.3 expressions each embody Bruichladdich’s dedication to showcasing how variations in peat, cask, and barley affect the spirit’s final character.
Head Distiller Adam Hannett describes Octomore as an “experiment” designed to go beyond conventional boundaries…
Octomore Edition 15.1 (£140)
Bottled at 59.1% ABV, with a PPM of 108.2, the foundational 15.1 has been matured in a mix of first-fill bourbon barrels (72%) and re-charred ex-bourbon casks (28%). Official tasting notes report an intricate layering of peat smoke and malt sweetness.
On the nose, expect caramel, vanilla custard, and citrus. On the palate, the intense peat smoke balances with charred oak and sweet malt, finishing with a crisp marine edge.
Octomore Edition 15.2 (£155)
The Octomore 15.2 is distilled from the same batch of Scottish grown barley, but takes the experiment further, to better showcase the impact of its unique cask composition, specifically second-fill wine casks (42%), second-fill bourbon casks (58%), finished in first-fill Cognac casks.
Bottled at 57.9% ABV, with a PPM of 108.2, this whisky offers aromas of citrus, lime zest, and lemons on the nose, balanced by an undercurrent of smoke. On the palate there’s vanilla custard and caramel, with pepper and cinnamon to add depth.
Octomore Edition 15.3 (£195)
The most heavily peated of the trio, Octomore 15.3 has been distilled from variable harvests from a single farm on Islay. With a high ABV of 61.3%, and a PPM of 307.2 (reportedly the second-highest phenol content in Octomore’s history), the liquid has enjoyed maturation in first-fill bourbon casks (69%) and first-fill Oloroso hogsheads from Jerez (31%).
Tasting notes refer to smoked cinder toffee and rich malted barley sugar on the nose, opening to butterscotch and creamy vanilla on the palate. Peat smoke lingers on the finish, mingling with burnt sugar and a hint of sea spray.
The Octomore 15 Series is available at The Whisky Exchange and other select whisky retailers.
The Dalmore has added a new permanent whisky to its core Principal Collection, a 17 year old Highland single malt that deepens the distillery’s long-standing exploration of Sherry cask maturation. The Dalmore Aged 17 Years is positioned as an evolution of the house style, building on techniques that have defined the brand for decades. The…
Calling all Johnnie Walker whisky fans – a new Blue Label limited edition has just been released for Lunar New Year, Year of the Horse, in collaboration with Hong Kong-born, London-based haute couturier Robert Wun. Wun’s spectacular box and bottle design reimagines the Lunar New Year through his own visionary lens, a tribute to artistry…
His Majesty King Charles III, accompanied by the First Minister of Scotland John Swinney MSP, hosted a reception at The Palace of Holyroodhouse to mark the Scottish Investment Forum, this week, where they were joined by representatives of Ian Macleod Distillers, the family-owned firm which owns Rosebank Whisky. Leonard Russell, Managing Director & Chairman; Tom…
The Luxe Review 
Islay-based distillery Bruichladdich hopes to enrapture peat freaks with the launch of its Octomore 15 Series, a trio of super smoky whiskies. The collection has been matured for five years, and explores the nuances of barley provenance and cask types, with escalating peat levels.
Head Distiller Adam Hannett describes Octomore as an “experiment” designed to go beyond conventional boundaries. “Based on 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,” says Hannett.
The Octomore 15.1, Octomore 15.2, and Octomore 15.3 expressions each embody Bruichladdich’s dedication to showcasing how variations in peat, cask, and barley affect the spirit’s final character.
Octomore Edition 15.1 (£140)
Bottled at 59.1% ABV, with a PPM of 108.2, the foundational 15.1 has been matured in a mix of first-fill bourbon barrels (72%) and re-charred ex-bourbon casks (28%). Official tasting notes report an intricate layering of peat smoke and malt sweetness.
On the nose, expect caramel, vanilla custard, and citrus. On the palate, the intense peat smoke balances with charred oak and sweet malt, finishing with a crisp marine edge.
Octomore Edition 15.2 (£155)
The Octomore 15.2 is distilled from the same batch of Scottish grown barley, but takes the experiment further, to better showcase the impact of its unique cask composition, specifically second-fill wine casks (42%), second-fill bourbon casks (58%), finished in first-fill Cognac casks.
Bottled at 57.9% ABV, with a PPM of 108.2, this whisky offers aromas of citrus, lime zest, and lemons on the nose, balanced by an undercurrent of smoke. On the palate there’s vanilla custard and caramel, with pepper and cinnamon to add depth.
Octomore Edition 15.3 (£195)
The most heavily peated of the trio, Octomore 15.3 has been distilled from variable harvests from a single farm on Islay. With a high ABV of 61.3%, and a PPM of 307.2 (reportedly the second-highest phenol content in Octomore’s history), the liquid has enjoyed maturation in first-fill bourbon casks (69%) and first-fill Oloroso hogsheads from Jerez (31%).
Tasting notes refer to smoked cinder toffee and rich malted barley sugar on the nose, opening to butterscotch and creamy vanilla on the palate. Peat smoke lingers on the finish, mingling with burnt sugar and a hint of sea spray.
The Octomore 15 Series is available at The Whisky Exchange and other select whisky retailers.
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The Dalmore has added a new permanent whisky to its core Principal Collection, a 17 year old Highland single malt that deepens the distillery’s long-standing exploration of Sherry cask maturation. The Dalmore Aged 17 Years is positioned as an evolution of the house style, building on techniques that have defined the brand for decades. The…
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Calling all Johnnie Walker whisky fans – a new Blue Label limited edition has just been released for Lunar New Year, Year of the Horse, in collaboration with Hong Kong-born, London-based haute couturier Robert Wun. Wun’s spectacular box and bottle design reimagines the Lunar New Year through his own visionary lens, a tribute to artistry…
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