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.
House of Hazelwood has expanded its Legacy Collection with a limited-edition Scotch that draws inspiration from the River Spey and offers whisky enthusiasts the chance to experience a mature House of Hazelwood expression at a comparatively accessible price. Distilled in 1992 and matured for more than 30 years, Calm Waters is a blended malt created…
Our love affair with Japanese whisky shows no sign of abating, as experimental producer Hatozaki brings the Fifth and Sixth Editions of its Omakase Collection to the UK – and they’re looking like exceptional value. Produced at the Kaikyō Distillery on the shores of Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, the Hatozaki Omakase Collection takes its name…
Maker’s Mark has launched a new airport‑exclusive Artist Series, pairing its handmade Kentucky bourbon with limited‑edition labels inspired by major global cities. The collection forms part of a wider programme of travel‑retail exclusives from the distillery. Each release is defined not by a unique liquid or cask profile, but by its artwork. The whisky inside…
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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House of Hazelwood has expanded its Legacy Collection with a limited-edition Scotch that draws inspiration from the River Spey and offers whisky enthusiasts the chance to experience a mature House of Hazelwood expression at a comparatively accessible price. Distilled in 1992 and matured for more than 30 years, Calm Waters is a blended malt created…
Experimental Japanese whisky producer Hatozaki brings Sakura and Mizunara editions to the UK
Our love affair with Japanese whisky shows no sign of abating, as experimental producer Hatozaki brings the Fifth and Sixth Editions of its Omakase Collection to the UK – and they’re looking like exceptional value. Produced at the Kaikyō Distillery on the shores of Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, the Hatozaki Omakase Collection takes its name…
Maker’s Mark bourbon unveils airport‑exclusive Artist Series with city‑inspired bottlings
Maker’s Mark has launched a new airport‑exclusive Artist Series, pairing its handmade Kentucky bourbon with limited‑edition labels inspired by major global cities. The collection forms part of a wider programme of travel‑retail exclusives from the distillery. Each release is defined not by a unique liquid or cask profile, but by its artwork. The whisky inside…
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