Octomore is the world’s most routinely heavily-peated single malt whisky, produced by the Bruichladdich distillery on the Isle of Islay. Octomore is part of what Bruichladdich terms ‘cask evolution’ and takes its name from a farm located on the hillside above Port Charlotte village in the Rhinns of Islay, not far from the Bruichladdich distillery.
The first batch, distilled in 2002 and released in 2008 and was peated to 80.5ppm (Phenols Per Million), with the Octomore 08.3 ‘Islay Barley’ standing out as the highest-ever peated Octomore to date with a massive 309.1ppm. The whisky is regularly been bottled as a five-year-old, as this is considered the ideal age for its phenols to be at their most expressive.
Despite being the peat monster to devour all peat monsters, don’t be fooled by this smoky beast – Octomore is by no means only a heavily peated, one-dimensional dram. Its complexity is laid bare, with maritime and vanilla notes joining a symphony of alluring florals and fruit, all conducted by the earthy, campfire of beautiful smoke.