In an eagerly anticipated release for peated whisky enthusiasts, Bruichladdich Distillery recently launched its 15th annual Octomore series. The collection, unveiled to the Malaysian market on 27 November 2024 by Rémy Cointreau Malaysia at a launch event at Jann at Four Points by Sheraton, Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur, featured a trio of super-heavily peated single malt Scotch whiskies that continue the brand’s tradition of challenging conventional whisky wisdom.

The series includes Octomore 15.3, which boasts an extraordinary 307.2 phenol parts per million (PPM), making it the second most heavily-peated Octomore spirit in history, just behind the legendary Octomore 8.3 (309 PPM). The launch event was attended by Abigail Clephane, Global Brand Ambassador from Bruichladdich Distillery.

Octomore has earned the moniker “Impossible Equation” for its seemingly contradictory characteristics. Despite being relatively young at five years old, high in alcohol content, and intensely peated, the whisky delivers a complexity that defies expectations.

“Octomore is an experiment. 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. This is a whisky which is layered and complex, there’s nothing else like it. Creating a brand new Octomore series each year which is unique and distinct is a welcomed challenge. It is a moment to pause, reflect, question, and keep pushing. Who knows what will come next. Our Islay barley works exceptionally well with high phenol levels, and Octomore 15.3 balances intense peat smoke with our cereal forward, malt-sugar spirit. The goal is never to intentionally create the most super-heavily peated single malt whisky in the world, but rather an extraordinary dram which demonstrates the perfect alchemy of peat, maturation, barley varietal and cask type. And that’s Octomore 15.3 for me.”

Bruichladdich Distillery Head Distiller, Adam Hannett

The star of the collection, Octomore 15.3, is distilled using locally grown and harvested Islay barley and bottled at cask strength (61.3% ABV). Despite its formidable peat levels, Hannett notes that the whisky maintains exceptional balance.

The collection begins with Octomore 15.1, considered the backbone of the experiment. Distilled from 100% Scottish barley, bottled at 59.1% ABV and malted to 108.2 PPM, it showcases the intricate balance between intense smoke, cask type, and spirit. In keeping with the distillery’s sustainability focus, the spirit has matured in first fill bourbon barrels combined with reused and re-charred ex-bourbon casks.

Octomore 15.2 offers an intriguing comparison to its 15.1 counterpart. Distilled from the same batch of Scottish barley with identical 108.2 PPM, it diverges through its maturation in second fill wine and bourbon casks, finished in first fill Cognac casks. Bottled at 57.9% ABV, it features notes of citrus fruits balanced with peat smoke, vanilla custard, caramel, and a hint of black pepper.

Completing the trio, Octomore 15.3 brings its phenomenal 307.2 PPM force of flavour. It has been distilled from variable harvests from Octomore Farm itself, located less than two miles from the distillery. The whisky has matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon casks and first-fill Oloroso hogsheads from Fernando de Castilla in Jerez, Spain. Despite its 61.3% ABV strength, it maintains an exceptionally soft texture with notes of smoked cinder toffee, rich malted barley sugar, dried fruit, and sweet orange zest.

All whiskies in the Octomore 15 series are conceived, distilled, matured, and bottled exclusively on Islay. Each expression is un-chill filtered and contains no added colour, adhering to Bruichladdich’s commitment to authenticity.

Malaysian whisky enthusiasts can purchase the complete Octomore 15 series, including 15.1, 15.2, and 15.3, at select retailers including Single & Available (Bangsar Shopping Center), Single Cask (Georgetown & Butterworth), and MH Wine & Spirits (Johor Bahru).

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