Bruichladdich Octomore 17.2 - 70cl/59.5%

Distillery history:Bruichladdich Distillery was founded on Islay in 1881, closed in the 1990s and reopened in 2001. Octomore was developed in the early 2000s by Jim McEwan and the team as the super-heavily peated style, known for extreme phenol levels and precise distillation. The first release appeared around 2008, emphasising balance between peat and fruit.

Whisky notes:This is Octomore 17.2, made from the same batch of 100% Scottish mainland Concerto barley as 17.1, peated to 81.0 PPM. It spent four years in second-fill French oak that previously held Californian red wine then bourbon, before finishing in first-fill Port barriques, for a total of five years. Bottled at 59.5% ABV, non-chill filtered and with no added colour. This exact cask combination is the first used for Octomore.

Tasting notes:Nosing: ripe red berries, raspberry and blackcurrant jam, with toasted oak, clove and dry smoke.Palate: full berry fruit and barley sugar, peppery peat building, with lemon zest and lime oil.Finish: raisins and toasted oak, shifting to light saline sea air and lingering peat.