Bruichladdich Octomore 11.1 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Volume: 700ml           ABV: 59.4%           Age: 5 Years Old           Country: Scotland           PPM:139.6ppm

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. Falling on hard times with whisky demand low and plenty of surplus then owners Invergorden shut the distillery down in 1995. Re-opening again in 2001 it was sold to Remy Cointreau in 2012 which started to invest heavily to refurbish the distillery. An onsite maltings is currently being built at the distillery to allow for a 100% Islay grown, malted, distilled and matured spirit.

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 2014 from a harvest of 2013 of 100% Scottish grown Cencerto and Propino barley which was malted to 139.6ppm (phenol parts per million). Matured entirely on Islay for 5 years in first-fill American oak ex Bourbon whiskey casks from Jim Beam, Heaven Hill and Jack Daniels.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: Charred lemon and apricots, butterscotch, freshly baked shortbread, sea spray, smouldering ash.

Palate: Charred orchard fruits of apricots and apples, grapefruit citrus, vanilla, bonfire smoke and sea salt.

Finish: Long and smoky, salted caramel, garden herbs, bonfire smoke and smouldering oak.