The Bruichladdich Octomore single malts have defied conventional wisdom since they were first distilled in 2002.
This Bruichladdich Octomore 11.3 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky iteration explores and celebrates the 'terroir' of the Barley used. The Octomore 11.3 Islay barley is 100% from barely grown each year by friend of the distillery and farmer James Brown, on the Octomore farm itself. It is harvested, malted and distilled separately, even from the other Islay barley harvests Bruichladdich look after, in order to become a single field, single vintage product.
The Bruichladdich Octomore 11.3 Islay Barley Scotch Whisky was malted to 194ppm (peat), and distilled in 2014 from 2013 harvest of 100% Scottish grown concerto Barley, before maturation for 5 years on Islay in 1st fill American ex-bourbon casks. The Whisky is bottled without chill-filtration and no colour added. The whisky is bottled at a cask strength of 61.7% and limited to only 18,000 bottles produced.
Tasting notes from the team at Bruichladdich:
CHARACTER – Such a distinct expression of Octomore, so much of the flavour comes from the malted barley and the distillation. The distillation techniques allow us to slowly coax the flavours from the grain influenced so much by the location it is grown and truly express a unique flavour based on these fundamentals.
AROMA – Eight floral character on the nose, Summery and bright. The peat smoke is slow to rise initially but comes through with a light touch, clean and dry and very much in the background. Lovely light floral notes and sweet citrus, with honey and vanilla really holding everything together.
TASTE – Texturally this dram has a fantastic presence on the palate, holding the high strength perfectly. A gentle sweetness, honey and fruit syrup arrive, orange blossom, apricot jam and again the floral bouquet all gentle soft notes are holding off the phenols, a testament to the distillation techniques to allow the character of our spirit to come through with being dominated by the high level of phenols.
FINISH – Naturally the phenolic presence comes through on the finish, the floral notes fade and the dry smoke, earthy with dry grass come through. Burnt heather, toffee and malt sugar all play a part in a complex long finish.
COLOUR – Barley straw.
61.7% ABV, 700mL
