The Bruichladdich distillery, located on Scotland’s famous isle of Islay, has amongst its whisky offerings the very popular Octomore Scotch, known by many as the world’s most heavily peated single malt. The latest in this limited edition series was recently released, and it is all the more notable for being the first release of the uber-experimental spirit to be distilled using 100% Islay-grown barley.
Bruichladdich Octomore 6.3 Islay Barley, according to the distillery, is distilled from the most heavily peated barley in the world, resulting in a Scotch that clocks in at a staggering 258 ppm on the phenol “parts per million” scale. This is said to actually be up 89 ppm from the previous high of 169 ppm achieved by distillers there “prior to the distillation of the legendary Octomore 5.1.”
The crop which made up the barley for this release was drawn from a nearby farm after being sown in 2008, according to Bruichladdich. Due to the difficulty of growing barley on Islay, the tonnage yielded per acre of the barley was very low, resulting in only 18,000 bottles roughly after distillation and a five year slumber in ex-bourbon barrels.
The whisky, described as being non-chill filtered and natural colored, has a 64% ABV. For those who are fans of the Octomore releases, the 6.3 Islay Barley is said to be
the third expression of the sixth series (6.3) of the enigmatic single malt which occupies a category of its own in the world of Scotch whisky. Releases are numbered in accordance with provenance and style, those designated .1 being distilled using barley sourced from the Scottish mainland and maturing in ex-Bourbon casks, those designated .2 having additional cask enhancement, and those designated .3 being distilled from Islay-grown barley.
Expect to find this unique whisky in worldwide markets starting now and, in fact, it is already turning up online for around $200 a bottle. As for tasting notes check them out below courtesy of Bruichladdich.
Nose: It opens with the call of the sea, the thundering west coast waves driving a gentle mist onto the moorland and tempting the wild plants to release their unique aromas. Notes of myrtle, meadowsweet, mint and heather flowers drift across the nose. Wild thyme and red clover dance in perfect harmony with the strong uplifting peatiness of the Islay grown barley. It’s exhilarating, and seriously dramatic.
Palate: When the heat of the peat fires cool there is a spontaneous detonation of soft red grapes, cherries, Russian toffee, bitter chocolate, maple syrup and mellow oak. It is a taste like no other, a whisky cut loose, unhindered, unchanged. This is sorcery.
Finish: Long and strong, it warms the soul and lifts the heart. It evokes memories of those early years when the sweat of men instilled the spirit with a unique character. Join us as we look to the past, celebrating our Islay DNA while journeying into the future in a never-ending quest for the rainbow’s end.
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