Bruichladdich Octomore 13.3

Bruichladdich was built by Barnett Harvey in 1881. Five years later, the Bruichladdich Distillery Company was founded and renovation and refurbishment commenced. The "Laddie", as it is affectionately known, is often considered to be the fruitiest, most inventive Islay malt and, indeed, there has been some contention as to whether it has truly attained Islay-status. Bruichladdich countered this with the introduction of the Port Charlotte range and later with the 2008-released Octomore, the world's most heavily peated whisky with a phenol content of 131ppm. Then the distillery went almost the complete opposite direction and created The Botanist Gin!

The gentle character of the spirit is attributed by some to the milder weather conditions at Bruichladdich's locality, sheltered, as it is, from Mother Nature by the Rhinns, the rugged Islay mountain range. Following the death of the then owner, Barnett's son William Harvey IV in 1936, the distillery was run by Kenneth Harvey and sold a year later to Joseph Hobbs for the sum of £23,000. Silent for the latter part of the Second World War, Bruichladdich closed its in-house maltings in 1961, bringing malt in from the Islay maltings at Port Ellen. Enjoying good fortunes, further stills were added in 1975 to grapple increasing demand.

Blenders Whyte and Mackay acquired the distillery under Invergordon Distillers in 1993. Just two years later, production ceased and in 2000 the distillery was purchased by Murray McDavid for £6.5m. The former Bowmore manager, Jim McEwan was brought in as Production Director, and in July of 2001 distillation began once more. Today the range is vast; many cask finishes, or 'ACE'd (additional cask enhancement) whiskies, have been released as well as the formerly mentioned peated offerings and, following a few successful years, the "Laddie's" future looks promising.

Octomore 13.3 is distilled from barley grown on Islay, on one singular farm and demonstrates the phenomenal force of flavour when combining super-heavy peat with the variable harvests gathered from the island of Islay. This release is matured in a foundational parcel of first fill ex-American whiskey barrels and a supplementary selection of second fill European oak casks, hailing from the Rivesaltes region of France and the Ribera del Duero region of Spain.

Working with Islay barley is always a privilege. The ability to present it in a single estate, single vintage, single malt is perhaps even more poetic.

From year to year, Head Distiller Adam Hannett works with the base spirit bestowed upon him by the grower, together with natural factors; the changing climate and weather system, agronomic yield and the terroir of the field itself.

The European oak gives more subtle structure to the spirit, while the American oak allows the spirit to take centre stage. Expect vanilla and brown sugar, counterbalanced with fresh and round green fruit notes. The smoke is, as ever, gentle and dry, building to a long finish with hints of creosote and sea spray.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Elegant peat smoke, with alpine herbs, soft gingerbread, and crisp apples.

Palate: Sweet, delicate smoke, with caramelised honey, shortbread, Ovaltine, and hints of waxy lemon peel.

Finish: Peat builds, with savoury oats, and fruit compote.