Bruichladdich Octomore 16.2

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 16.2

"Octomore 16.2 is a captivating exploration of contrasting elements. The powerful peat smoke finds a perfect counterpoint in the rich, nuanced sweetness derived from the finishing casks. The result is a multilayered and deeply satisfying dram, showcasing both elegance and robust character. This is a whisky that demands attention and rewards patience, revealing its intricacies with each sip.〞- Adam Hannett, Head Distiller.

BARLEY PROVENANCE: 100% Scottish Mainland Concerto barley
MALTING: Super Heavily Peated
DISTILLATION: Distilled in 2019 from the 2018 harvest
AGE: 5 Aged Years
MATURATION PROFILE: Oloroso and Bordeaux casks, re-casked into Madeira and Moscatel for final year of maturation
PHENOL LEVEL: 101.4 parts per million (PPM)
STRENGTH: 58.1% ABV

Tasting Notes

Nose: Soft dried fruit mingles with Octomore’s signature smoke. Sunbaked tropical fruit and delicate florals appear from earthy peat, accompanied by a subtle nuttiness and toasted oak. Notes of honeysuckle and orange blossom emerge, alongside sweet smoke and a fresh, salty breeze.

Palate: Rich and sweet smoke, followed by caramelised sugar, roasted nuts, and dried fruits. Subtle hints of candied peel and warming spices follow. The underlying peat adds depth and complexity, evoking the warmth of a campfire and a touch of sea salt.

Finish: A long, sweet and smoky finish, with a crisp maritime freshness and lingering wood spices.