Bruichladdich Octomore 12.2 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
Volume: 700ml ABV: 57.3% Age: 5 Years Old Country: Scotland PPM:139.6ppm
Bruichladdich is living proof that the traditional whisky regions of Scotland make no sense. Please don’t think that labelling a whisky “Islay” has anything to do with taste because the truth is far more complicated and interesting. Built in 1881 when puffer-supplied coal was available as an alternative fuel to local peat, it is likely that Bruichladdich was specifically designed to produce the purest unpeated spirit possible. The great Alfred Barnard supports this view with a tantalising clue – the Laddie is the only distillery on Islay that he does not describe as drying its malt using peat in his fascinating exploration of the island’s distilleries in 1885. Sadly, none of that 19th century spirit survives, but the original Victorian machinery has allowed an unparalleled legacy of craft distilling to trickle down through the generations of men who make this sophisticated Islay dram.
The Octomore series was launched in 2008 and since has been very well received by whisky connoisseurs the world over. The series resembles the start of whisky innovation and creativity for the Bruichladddich distillery. Peating the malted barley for longer periods and creating a whisky from local barley was the challenge. The distillery set out to create the peatiest whisky in the world and have succeeded time and time again. Using different types of oak for maturation and breaking the rules as many times as possible to create a peated whisky like no other.
Distilled in the winter of 2015 from a harvest of 2014 of 100% Scottish grown Cencerto barley which was malted to 129.7ppm (phenol parts per million). Matured entirely on Islay for 5 years in a 50/50 combination of 1st and 2nd fill American whisky casks which were vatted together in 2019 and finished in first fill french Sauterne wine casks. Bottled at 57.3% ABV, unchill-filtered and no colouring.
Our Tasting Notes
Nose: Sweet juicy honeydew melon, honey roasted smoked almonds, freshly peeled oranges, hints of citrus and malted grain.
Palate: Bursting with tropical and orchard fruits, honey sweetness, smoked malted barley, charred lemon, vanilla and dry smoke.
Finish: Earthy peat smoke, sea salt and preserved lemon.
