Description

Bruichladdich Octomore 15.3 Scotch

Octomore single malt has defied perceived whisky wisdom since its launch in 2008. Matured for five years, always super-heavily peated and bottled close to cask strength, Octomore’s surprising elegance has led us to define it as The Impossible Equation. An experiment which pushes the boundaries of whisky making, the series explores the influence of terroir, cask management and varying peat levels on the final flavor, with each single malt having its own distinct and unique character.

Octomore 15.3 brings together heavyweight peating levels and variable harvests from one singular farm on Islay – Octomore farm, located just 2 miles from the distillery.

At 307.2 PPM, 15.3 is complex, robust and bursting with character. Formidable smoke is countered by ripe fruit from its patient distillation, showcasing both incomparable flavor and provenance. Kissed by salty sea spray, the homegrown Islay barley imparts not only malty sweetness but evokes a true sense of place.

Bruichladdich Octomore 15.3 presents a captivating sensory journey, beginning with its golden syrup appearance. On the nose, it reveals layers of smoked cinder toffee, rich malted Islay barley sugar, and honey, all balanced by fresh citrus notes. The aroma deepens with hints of dried fruit and crushed seashells interwoven with Octomore’s signature peat smoke, while cloves, toasted nuts, and a touch of coconut add further complexity. As it reaches the palate, the whisky is surprisingly soft and viscous despite its high strength. Flavors of butterscotch and creamy vanilla define its smooth character, accented by dried fruit, sweet orange zest, and toasted oak, with a rich foundation of locally grown barley sugar and waves of dry smoke. The finish is long and memorable, leaving impressions of burnt sugar, coconut, and delicate sea spray, all enveloped in earthy peat smoke that lingers and beckons another sip.

Specifications

• Barley provenance: 100% Islay grown Concerto barley from Octomore Farm
• Malting: Super heavily peated
• Distillation: Distilled in 2018 from the 2017 harvest
• Age: 5 aged years
• Maturation profile: Full term maturation in first fill bourbon casks and first fill Oloroso hogsheads from Fernando de Castilla, Jerez, Spain
• Phenol level: 307.2 parts per million (ppm)

Bruichladdich Octomore 15.3 Scotch Notes To Your Senses:

• APPEARANCE: Golden syrup
• AROMA: Smoked cinder toffee, rich malted Islay barley sugar and honey come to the fore, balanced with fresh citrus. Dried fruit and crushed seashells mingle with Octomore’s heady peat smoke, with cloves, toasted nuts and a hint of coconut adding depth and complexity. Butterscotch, brown sugar and warm bread pave the way for the cereal-forward single malt whisky.
• TASTE: High strength yet exceptionally soft in texture, Octomore 15.3 is unmistakably rounded and viscous. Butterscotch and creamy vanilla enhance its smooth character, punctuated with dried fruit and sweet orange zest. Toasted oak and locally grown barley sugar are underpinned with waves of dry smoke.
• FINISH: Burnt sugar, coconut, and delicate sea spray linger on the finish, with the lasting impression of earthy peat smoke forcing you to come back for more.
• ABV: 61.3%