Scotland’s Bruichladdich distillery is known for its usual range of bottlings, including the heavily peated Octomore series. It sometimes veers though into much more off the beaten track expressions, of which two new ones set to come to market are interesting enough to make mention of. One is an Octomore concept whisky, and the other is the long awaited next release in the Black Art series.
The new Octomore offering is being called Octomore OBA Concept. What you have here is a heavily peated Octomore – typical of this line – but beyond that little is known as to its actual composition or how it was aged (i.e. barrel type). It is one of the first Octomores that’s conceptually more from the mind of new Bruichladdich head distiller Adam Hannett, who took over from Jim McEwan when he retired back in mid-2015.
OBA, as the story goes, was first spoken of back at Feis Ile 2016 when, during Bruichladdich Festival Day, Hannett hinted at something different coming for Octomore. What exactly “it” is continues to be a mystery up to this moment, as the distillery has only said “sure, the iron fist/velvet glove profile was still evident, but there was a lot more going on – layers of complex flavour that evolved over time, in the glass, on the palate and in the mind… an elusive, shape-shifting spirit that refused to be tied down, to be labelled. What alchemy was this? The brain struggled to interpret the myriad of signals it was receiving from the palate. Bewilderment led through confusion to wonder – the agony and the ecstasy!”
So, basically, you’ll have to figure this one out for yourself. As far as buying details go, Octomore OBA Concept is a distillery exclusive you can order directly from them. Only 3,000, 500-ml bottles are being made available, with each pricing around $100 USD.
With regards to the next Black Art release, what we are talking about here is Bruichladdich Black Art 05.1. Yet another super limited released from this distillery with just 12,000 bottles planned for global push out, Black Art is a cult favorite among lovers of Bruichladdich whiskies. Historically it was McEwan’s pet project, and with Hannett now at the wheel the tradition continues.
What you have here is a single malt made from a very secret recipe that’s at least 24 years of age in bottle. It was bottled at 48.4% ABV after being aged in a mix of American oak and “premium” wine casks. It was matured entirely on Islay, which Bruichladdich is located, is both non-chill filtered and of natural color.
“Just before Jim retired in 2015 he took me to one side and handed me his recipe for the next iteration, Black Art 5,” said Hannett in a prepared statement. “It was an emotional moment, the handing over of responsibility of one of the greatest drams we’ve ever created. I have to say I took the recipe from Jim’s hand and dutifully ignored it. This had to be my Black Art.”
Black Art 05.1, which is unpeated, is set to price around $400 a bottle when it drops into retail in March.
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