Whisky Octomore 12.3

Nose: Delicate sherry notes of fig, raisin, and dates mingle with charcoal and smoky boot polish. Light citrus and honey blend with vibrant honeysuckle and orange blossom, followed by dark toffee, milk chocolate, and vanilla from the oak. Smoked grain, seaweed, linseed oil, and tobacco add depth as it opens.

Palate: Peppery nasturtium, dark chocolate, earthy peat smoke, and sherry fruits burst forward. Peat and dried fruit lead, followed by barley sugar and charred oak, unveiling rich toffee and tobacco. Sweet pastry and toasted grain linger before earthy smoke returns.

Finish: Charcoal, soot, and dried figs persist, with hints of salted lemons and bitter chocolate.

This Islay barley spirit, shaped by its terroir, was aged for five years in two types of casks: 75% in ex-American whiskey casks and 25% in Pedro Ximenez Solera casks from Jerez’s Fernando de Castilla. The result is a delicate balance of salty citrus and marine notes from the barley’s coastal origin and warehouse proximity to the sea, complemented by sweet dried fruit from the Pedro Ximenez casks, which enhances Octomore’s rich, dry peat smoke.

Bruichladdich was founded in 1881 on Islay. During its centuries-old history, the company has experienced a series of ups and downs, but in 2001, after Jim McEwan and several investors bought the company, Bruichladdich regained its former strength.