Octomore 15.2

The name Octomore derives from the Gaelic 'Ochdamh-Mor', meaning 'eighth estate', and honours Octomore Farm on Islay. Bruichladdich seized on this name to launch an experiment designed to redefine what whisky could be. Distilled in 2018 from 100% Scottish Concerto barley, the spirit spent five years maturing on Islay before bottling in 2023.

The 15.2 expression is distinctly constructed: initial maturation in American oak (42% second-fill), followed by a finish in European oak and ex-Cognac casks. This three-cask approach layers subtle complexity onto the heavily peated base—108.2 ppm—without sacrificing elegance.

On the nose, toasted peat gives way to almond, marzipan, and lemon zest, with creamy vanilla and buttery undertones. The palate is generous: candied fruit, ginger, white grape, orange peel, and toffee meld with the spirit's funky, oily character, a direct gift from the Cognac wood. The finish lingers with toasted oak and nutmeg, refined yet insistent.