Review | Octomore Series 16

Octomore is the super heavily peated range of single malts produced by Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay. Series 16 of Octomore features three expressions. 16.1 is described as ‘the reference’ and is matured in first-fill bourbon barrels. 16.2, described as ‘cask aced’, is matured in Oloroso sherry and Bordeaux red wine casks, before being finished in Madeira and Portuguese Moscatel wine casks. 16.3 is made from Islay barley grown exclusively in a single field on Octomore Farm. It has been matured in ex-bourbon, ex-Sauternes dessert wine and ex-Pedro Ximénez casks.

Bruichladdich (pronounced brook-laddie) is located on the western peninsula of Islay and sits on the shores of Loch Indaal. Bruichladdich translates as ‘the brae (or hillside) by the shore’ from the local Gaelic. First launched in 2008, Octomore is released annually in limited batches. It is (almost) always matured for five years and bottled at the natural cask strength.

The distillery was founded in 1881 by Barnett Harvey and it was one of the first buildings in the UK to be constructed using concrete. The current owners are Remy Cointreau, who took control in 2012 from a group of independent entrepreneurs. They had renovated the distillery and rebuilt the brand following a period of closure between 1995 and 2001. The current capacity is two million litres per year.

Bruichladdich Distillery stands out on Islay for using exclusively Scottish barley, including batches grown on the local farm. They also follow a sustainable production standard that marries modern transparent thinking with traditional techniques. This has resulted in them being awarded B-Corp status in 2020. Also unusually they produce three different styles of single malt at the distillery – classic unpeated Bruichladdich, peated Port Charlotte and heavily peated Octomore. The inaugural production run of the super peaty Octomore happened in 2002.

Octomore exists to provoke and challenge. 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.

Adam Hannett | Bruichladdich Distillery Master Blender

Octomore Series 16 is available direct from Bruichladdich’s website or from specialist whisky retailers in limited quantities.

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Our Tasting Notes

Octomore 16.1

100% Scottish mainland Concerto barley | Malted to 101.4 PPM | First-fill bourbon barrels | 59.3% ABV| £140

16.1 is bright gold in colour. On the nose it is filled with rhubarb, green apples and grass, vanilla sugar, burnt charcoal smokiness, and a hint of fresh wild herbs. To taste it begins with candied sweetness, green apples, green melons and green bananas. It evolves with added candied red apples, maltiness and burnt toffee. Then the big smokiness hits with bonfire richness. The finish wraps this package up with added tobacco, drying tannins and bitter herbs with just a touch of orange zest.

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Octomore 16.2

100% Scottish mainland Concerto barley | Malted to 101.4 PPM | Oloroso and Bordeaux casks, recasked into Madeira and Moscatel for final year of maturation | 58.1% ABV | £155

16.2 is a deep dark copper colour. On the nose it is remarkably savoury with both salinity and meatiness, but mainly meatiness. There is burnt caramel, dark chocolate, grilled peaches and a flinty earthiness. The meatiness comes across on the palate as dried mushrooms, beef jerky, barbequed brisket, Worcester sauce, and Marmite. There is some fruitiness of red apples and sweetness of dark toffee and some dark chocolate. The smoke that lingers throughout is ashy and holds a touch of bitterness. The finish then introduces a rather unexpected but refreshing touch of asparagus as well as re-enforcing the salinity that was present on the nose.

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Octomore 16.3

100% Concerto barley from Church Field on Octomore Farm, Islay | Malted to 189.5 PPM | Bourbon, Sauternes and Pedro Ximénez casks | 61.6% ABV | £195

16.3 is a bright golden colour. On the nose there is an initial note of butter, apricots and honey. Plus vanilla, milk chocolate, a hint of dustiness and some fresh leafy greens. On the palate this whisky is juicy with green tropical flavours of melon and banana. This is balanced with a dusty element of powdered sugar and cocoa powder. There is a bitter tobacco element alongside bittersweet blood orange. Next comes the rich sweet wave of milk chocolate, vanilla, Nutella, and toasted almonds. On the finish the dusty element becomes more pronounced as does the bitter tobacco and chocolate.

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What’s The Verdict?

It goes without saying that this small batch range of super peaty single malts is absolutely one for the peat-heads out there. But there is a remarkably balanced integration for such high levels of smokiness. It really opens up these whiskies to a much wider audience. These are not session whiskies, in part thanks to the high ABVs. However if you want something that is a conversation starter and one to sip, savour and enjoy with friends then Octomore hits the spot.