Octomore 14
Bruichladdich Distillery, one of the most popular whisky makers on the island of Islay, has just announced the release of the next edition of Octomore. No one needs to be introduced to Islay, an island famous for its most smoky, peaty whiskies. No one needs to be introduced to Octomore - the smokiest, peatiest whisky of them all.
According to the distillery, the Octomore 14 series will consist of four editions, differing in maturation method, type of barley or degree of smokiness of the malt, or a combination of these elements. Details of the first three editions of the new series have been revealed for today.
Octomore 14.1 (59.6% vol.) is referred to as the base edition, the backbone of the new series, the starting version, which is the starting place for the evolution of the other three. It is a whisky made from barley of the Concerto variety harvested in Scotland. During malting, this barley was smoked to a level of 128.9 ppm. The whisky was matured for 5 years in first-fill American whiskey barrels.
In the aroma Octomore 14.1 we find smoky vanilla, sweet caramel, toffee, soot, delicate notes of coconut and almond flakes. These will be followed by an earthy smokiness, a citrus note in the form of lemon meringue. Finally, touches of grilled pork. The taste will include citrus, smoke and a pronounced minerality. Burnt oak and notes of an extinguished campfire on the beach. Toffee, creamy vanilla, earthy smoke, notes of pear, gooseberry, green apple. Roasted coffee, cloves, nutmeg, finally heather honey. The finish is long, with notes of fudge, vanilla, earthy peat smoke, sea breeze, roasted heather and coconut.
Octomore 14.2 (57.7% vol.) is the same barley, smoked the same way (128.9 ppm) and the same age. However, it differs in the way it matures. Octomore 14.2 matured in first-fill hogshead sherry oloroso barrels (40%), first-fill Amarone barrels (14%) and second-fill Amarone barrels (44%).
In the aroma Octomore 14.2 we find leather, dried plums, red currant, barley malt, roasted oak, notes of cinnamon, green apples and black pepper. Smoke, red fruits, grain accents of malt and oatmeal. In the dry peaty smoke we find hints of roasted heather and pipe tobacco. The taste will include notes of spices, smoky oak and roasted coffee. Grill sweetness, a little black pepper, fruit cake, dried fruit. A touch of water will enhance the smoky accents and fruity sweetness native to wine barrels, bringing a harmony of notes of apples and pears. The long finish is mainly notes of smoked malt, smoky oak sea salt and earthy smoke.
Octomore 14.3 (61.4% vol.) is a whisky made from barley of the Concerto variety, grown on the Octomore farm on Islay. Malt was smoked to a level of 214.2 ppm. The whisky was matured for five years in first-fill American whiskey (50%) and second-fill wine (50%) casks.
In the aroma Octomore 14.3 we find notes of fresh mash, peat smoke, sweet stone fruits, including ripe apricots and peaches, sprinkled with honey pears. Candied lemon peels, fudge, honeycomb, chocolate and vanilla ice cream. In the taste we can expect delicate notes of oak, smoky peat. Plant accents of flowering colcollistus and honeysuckle. Barley - creamy oatmeal, cereal notes. French oak, sweet vanilla, toffee and American oak. The finish is dominated by barley malt and earthy smoke, sweet barley sugar, caramel and vanilla.
About the edition Octomore 14.4 all that is known so far is that it was the first whisky from Bruichladdich to be matured in Colombian oak barrels.
Retail prices for the first three Octomore 14 editions are £140, £155 and £195 respectively.
Before Octomore 14 hits the offer of the House of Whisky Online, we recommend taking a look at these previous editions, which are available in the current offer.
[05.09.2023 / photo: Bruichladdich]