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Bruichladdich released its newest epically smoky single malt whisky, Octomore 15

Fans of peated whisky eagerly await this annual expression

Bruichladdich
Bruichladdich

Fans of robust, peat-smoked single malt whiskies rejoice: Bruichladdich recently released Octomore 15, the second most heavily peated whisky ever made.

The highly sought-after annual release, Octomore 15, isn’t just one expression but a trio of ridiculously smoky single malt whiskies. Each was matured in different barrel types for five years to appeal to all smoky whisky palates.

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The expressions

Bruichladdich
Bruichladdich

Octomore 15.1

Distilled from 100% Scottish barley, it matured in first-fill and ex-bourbon barrels before bottling at 59.1% ABV. It’s known for its flavor profile of toasted vanilla beans, toffee, tropical fruits, and rich, peaty smoke.

Octomore 15.2

Also distilled from 100% Scottish barley, this unique expression was matured in a combination of second-fill wine and second-fill bourbon barrels before being finished in first-fill cognac barrels. The result is a 57.9% ABV complex whisky known for its flavors of vanilla, caramelized sugar, ocean brine, cracked black pepper, and peaty smoke.

Octomore 15.3

Made with 100% Scottish barley, it was matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon casks and first-fill Oloroso casks from Jerez, Spain. The result is the second smokiest whisky ever made, with a ton of peat, toffee, candied orange peels, and toasted coconut.

“Octomore is an experiment,” Head Distiller Adam Hannett said in a press release. “it is purposely designed to spark intrigue and prove the unimaginable. Based on liquid profile alone this should be a one dimensional, overly-peated Islay single malt Scotch whisky with no depth – but we’ve created the opposite.”

Where can I buy it?

Scotch by candlelight
Andrew Seaman / Unsplash

These are limited-edition single malt whiskies. If you want to get your hands on one or all the bottles, you can purchase them at select whisky retailers and Bruichladdich’s online store for a suggested retail price of $140, $150, and $190, respectively.

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Christopher Osburn
Christopher Osburn is a food and drinks writer located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. He's been writing professional
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