Bruichladdich Octomore 15.3 Islay Barley 5 Year Old 2018

Bruichladdich Octomore 15.3 is the Islay Barley bottling from the distillery's fifteenth Octomore series, a five-year-old single malt bottled at a full cask strength of 61.3% ABV. It was distilled in 2018 from Concerto barley harvested in 2017 on Octomore Farm, less than two miles from the distillery, and peated to 307.2 PPM, second in the Octomore range only to edition 8.3. Maturation took place entirely on Islay in first-fill bourbon casks (69%) and first-fill Oloroso hogsheads from Fernando de Castilla in Jerez (31%). It is bottled with Islay spring water, without chill filtration or added colouring. For all its strength and smoke, the texture is surprisingly soft, with cereal sweetness, burnt sugar and sherry-cask fruit balancing the earthy peat and a salty coastal tang.

Tasting Notes: peat smoke, cinder toffee, malted barley, dried fruit, orange zest, vanilla, sea salt, coconut

Nose: Smoked cinder toffee over rich malted barley sugar.

Palate: Dried fruit and sweet orange zest, with a soft texture despite the high strength.

Finish: Long peat smoke with a fresh hint of coconut.

Serve: Neat first, then with a few drops of water to open up the fruit beneath the smoke.