Fans of peaty whiskies rejoice. Bruichladdich Distillery has added a heavily-peated 10-year-old single malt to its Octomore 15 series. The oldest expression in this year's line by far, it boasts a truly Scottish provenance.
Officially dubbed Octomore Series 15 Ten Aged Years, the new spirit follows the September rollout of the 2024 collection’s original three bottlings—one of which is the second peatiest whisky ever produced by the Islay distillery, clocking 307.2 phenol parts per million (PPM), the metric used to measure peat character.
Distilled from 100-percent Scottish Concerto barley, this latest Octomore Scotch whisky was malted to 107 PPM. And while that might not be anywhere close to 307.2 PPM, it’s still a particularly peaty release. Most peated whisky comes in around 20 to 30 PPM, while heavily peated whiskies like Ardbeg often arrive between 50 and 60 PPM.
Series 15 Ten Aged Years was made from a blend of Octomore spirit matured in first-fill bourbon casks layered with three other liquids: whisky aged in Pineau des Charentes casks; another in second-fill Pedro Ximénez Sherry butts; and one more in first-fill red wine casks. Finally, they were all blended and left to marry for six months before bottling.
Want the latest whiskey news, deals, and reviews? Sign up for the Whiskey Wednesday newsletter.
Arriving in elegant apricot color, the whisky delivers aromas of dried fruit, butterscotch, caramel, buttered popcorn, and fragrant peat smoke. On the palate, sweet smoked fruit meets vanilla, Manuka honey, subtle spice, and toasted oak. The finish features wood spices, coffee, charred oak, peat smoke, and burnt heather.
“Showcasing the versatility of this elegant spirit, Octomore 15 Ten Aged Years has patiently matured on the shores of Lochindaal for the past decade. The quiet passing of time, together with the incredible influence of cask, has helped to shape this latest expression,” says Adam Hannett, head distiller at Bruichladdich Distillery.
Getty Images; Martin Fraser
“Octomore at this age is quite special,” says Hannett. “The patient 10-year maturation adds depth and elegance without losing any of its powerful peated character. The specific combination of casks brings sweet dried fruits, toasted oak and butterscotch, which works amazingly well with Octomore’s unmistakable dry smoke.”
Bottled at 52.2 percent ABV, Octomore Series 15 Ten Aged Years is priced at $225 USD exclusively available on the brand's website and on-site at the distillery.
Related: How to Drink Scotch Whisky: Experts Share Their Best Tips
