Bruichladdich Octomore 15.1

Bruichladdich Octomore 15.1

Bruichladdich just released Octomore series 15. We picked the cornerstone expression 15.1 for this review. It is peated to 108.2 ppm and distilled from 100% Scottish Concerto barley. Maturation took place in a combination of first fill bourbon barrels and re-charred bourbon casks.

For your information 15.2 adds wine and cognac casks to the recipe. Octomore 15.3 is quite a different beast, peated to 307.2 ppm making it the second most heavily peated release to date, matured in bourbon casks and Oloroso hogsheads.

 

Bruichladdich Octomore 15.1 5yo 2018 (59,1%, OB 2024, first-fill + recharred bourbon casks)

Nose: toasted, charred notes rather than rude peat. There’s also a lot of creamy vanilla, even a buttery note, along with brighter citrus and aniseed. Also grassy and mossy notes, pears and maybe some white grapes. Bay leaves and hints of pepper, as well as a floral geranium note. Overall perhaps a little shy.

Mouth: more ashy and earthy smoke now, almost like mezcal at times. Soon this mingles with some tannic notes and smoked meats, with cloves, hay and a subtle vanilla note. Then lemon and salt comes out, as well as slightly bitter walnuts and ginger. A little narrow again, lacking a bit of depth, despite a nice warming coffee note in the end.

Finish: quite long, with a firm coastal footprint, along with sweet charred oak, aniseed and lemon pith.

I expected a bit more from a classic bourbon matured Octomore, to be honest. It feels quite young and narrow, so I’d only recommend it if you’re looking for a peaty slap in your face. Certainly rougher than other 5 year-old Octomores. Available from The Whisky Exchange or Tyndrum Whisky for instance.

  
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