Octomore 17.2 5 Year Old

Produced at Bruichladdich Distillery on the Isle of Islay, Octomore is the world's most heavily peated single malt whisky, defined by an uncompromising approach to barley provenance, peat level and cask selection. The 17 Series, presented as Chromatic Signatures, explores how distinct cask combinations shape and transform Octomore's signature super-heavily peated spirit.

Edition 17.2 is the second step in the 17 Series journey and the most complex in its maturation, spending 4 years in second-fill French oak that previously aged Californian red wine then bourbon, before being finished in first-fill port barriques. Distilled from 100% Scottish mainland Concerto barley malted to 81.0 PPM and aged for 5 years in total, the port influence amplifies fruit and spice while allowing the barley and peat to remain present throughout. Rich, vibrant and beautifully composed, it is less overt in smoke on the nose yet profoundly smoky in structure.

Tasting Notes by Bruichladdich:
Nose: Opens with ripe red fruits and soft, jammy sweetness suggestive of late-harvest berries and stone fruit jam. Raspberry and blackcurrant preserve and florals redolent of Turkish Delight mingle with toasted oak, clove and aniseed spice. The smoke is dry - wood-fired rather than phenolic, like smouldering embers. Hints of barley flour, fresh linen, leather and coastal iodine bring freshness and structure, with coconut and ginger warmth developing in the glass.
Palate: Supple and viscous, immediately coating the mouth in wine-poached berries and spiced fruits. Strawberry, blackberry and cassis are followed by barley sugars and dark syrup sweetness. Peat smoke builds steadily, pepper y and earthy, alongside lemon zest and lime oils that brighten the palate. Oak tannins and gentle warmth lend depth and balance.
Finish: Long and luxurious. Raisins, toasted oak and sweet malt fade gradually into dry, maritime salt and char. As the fruit recedes, a distinct Octomore signature remains — persistent peat smoke and soft spice linger on irresistibly.