Bruichladdich has launched the 10th series in it’s super heavily peated Octomore brand with a line-up consisting of Octomore 10.1, Octomore 10.2, Octomore 10.3 Islay Barley, and Octomore 10.4 Virgin Oak.
Octomore 10.1
- 5 years old
- Distilled from 100% Scottish grown Concerto barley
- Matured in first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks
- Peated to 107ppm (parts per million)
- Bottled at 59.8% ABV
- Limited to 42,000 bottles
Octomore 10.2 (Travel Retail Exclusive)
- 8 years old
- Distilled from 100% Scottish grown Optic and Oxbridge barley
- Matured for 4 years in first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks and 4 years in Sauternes wine casks
- Peated to 96.9ppm (parts per million)
- Bottled at 56.9% ABV
- Limited to 24,000 bottles
Octomore 10.3 Islay Barley
- 6 years old
- Distilled from 100% Octomore Farm, Islay grown Concerto barley
- Matured in first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks
- Peated to 114ppm
- Bottled at 61.3% ABV
- Limited to 24,000 bottles
Octomore 10.4 Virgin Oak
- 3 years old
- Distilled from 100% Scottish grown Concerto barley
- Matured in French virgin oak casks
- Peated to 88ppm
- Bottled at 63.5% ABV
- Limited to 12,000 bottles
On paper, these are among the least peated Octomore expressions to date. Bruichladdich is asking fans to “dismiss the numbers and forget everything you think you know”, and for good reason. I had the opportunity to attend a tasting featuring the Octomore 10.1 and 10.3, and despite the low ppm levels, upon tasting the whiskies there was no mistaking them for anything but Octomores.
All four Octomores are bottled un-chill filtered and coloring free. Octomore 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3 are available now and Octomore 10.4 will be available beginning January 2020.
