Bruichladdich Debuts 16th Octomore Series of Heavily Peated Scotch Whiskies — And We Got an Early Taste

Bruichladdich has unveiled its 16th Octomore series.

On Tuesday, Bruichladdich Distillery unveiled the 16th edition of its Octomore series, a collection of heavily peated single malt Scotch whiskies distilled, aged and bottled on Islay. The lineup includes Octomore 16.1, 16.2 and 16.3, with a fourth release, 16.4, arriving as an online exclusive in November.

Octomore has been produced annually since 2008 and is known for pushing peating levels. Each expression in Series 16 is aged five years and bottled close to cask strength. Head Distiller Adam Hannett said Octomore’s purpose is to challenge expectations.

“Octomore exists to provoke and challenge,” Hannett said in a news release. “Something that is on paper so polarising, it shouldn’t really work – it’s too young, too strong and too peaty. But with each new Octomore expression, the spirit continues to surprise and delight with its depth, its campfire smoke and its incredible flavour profile.”

Octomore 16.1

Serving as the benchmark for the series, Octomore 16.1 is distilled from 100% Scottish mainland Concerto barley, malted to 101.4 parts per million (PPM) and bottled at 59.3% ABV. Matured in first-fill bourbon barrels, it is priced at $204.99.

Click here to read our full review of Bruichladdich Octomore 16.1.

Octomore 16.2

Octomore 16.2 uses the same distillate as 16.1 but is matured in Oloroso and Bordeaux casks, then finished in Madeira and Portuguese Moscatel casks before being bottled at 58.1% ABV. This marks the first time Bruichladdich has used this cask combination for Octomore. The bottle is priced at $244.99.

Click here to read our full review of Bruichladdich Octomore 16.2.

Octomore 16.3

Distilled from barley grown at Octomore Farm’s Church Field on Islay, Octomore 16.3 is malted to 189.5 PPM and bottled at 61.6% ABV. It is matured in bourbon, Sauternes and Pedro Ximénez casks. It has a suggested retail price of $279.99.

Click here to read our full review of Bruichladdich Octomore 16.3.

Octomore 16.4

Due Nov. 4, Octomore 16.4 will be a distillery-exclusive release. Distilled from Scottish mainland barley, it is malted to 189.5 PPM and bottled at 62.6% ABV. Aged in second-fill bourbon barrels before being re-casked into French virgin oak, it carries notes of toasted oak, roasted coffee, dark chocolate and sweet smoke.

All whiskies in the Octomore 16 series are non-chill filtered, bottled without added color and proofed with spring water from Islay. The range will be available through bruichladdich.com and select whisky retailers.