Octomore takes its name from the Gaelic 'Ochdamh-Mor' (eighth estate) and honours Octomore Farm on Islay, where Bruichladdich grows its barley. This is the 14th annual release in the ultra-peated series, distilled in 2017 from 100% Concerto barley harvested on the island itself. After five years in first-fill casks, it's bottled close to cask strength—an uncompromising statement of intensity.

The marriage of heavy peat and sherry-cask influence yields something unexpected: richer and fuller than the smoke alone suggests. Honey, vanilla, and brown sugar dominate the nose initially, alongside fruitcake notes. On the palate, an oily texture eases the dry character, allowing red and dark fruits—apple and pear—to emerge. Leather and chocolate provide depth. Water opens the smoke further and brings the wine-cask sweetness into sharper focus.