Bruichladdich Masterclass Octomore 8.3 Scotch Whisky 700mL

700mL @ 61.2% ABV

INITIATION AND PROVOCATION IS FOLLOWED BY CHALLENGE. GROWING BARLEY ON ISLAY IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT AND YIELDS ARE LOW.

The autumn of 2010 was wet and windy. A late harvest saw Octomore farmer James Brown facing heavy losses from greylag geese and herds of wild red deer, resulting in a precious little yield. Malting the this Octomore grain produced results that were unprecedented, the readings came back at 309.1ppm. The nature and variety of Octomore depends on far more than simply number, but these were staggering. Following a carefully controlled trickle distillation, this uber-provenance spirit was matured in 56% first fill Bourbon casks, the remaining in ex-Paulliac, Ventoux, Rhone and Burgundy casks. The Octomore 08.3 edition is: The most heavily-peated octomore to date (309ppm)

One farm, one field, one vintage

Distilled in 2011 from 2010 harvest

56% full-term ex-Bourbon, 44% full-term European oak maturation

Aged 5 years

18,000 btls only

TASTING NOTES

This is the ultimate Islay Octomore. A thunderstorm of a dram. Close your eyes as you take the first sip and allow your senses to shut down as you focus on processing this fascinating dram.