Ochdamh-mòr 06.3 5 Year Old Islay Barley

The very first release of Octomore whisky distilled from 100% Islay barley and harvested in 2008 by farmer James Brown at Lorgba, a single field on his Octomore farm. Peated to a stratospheric 258ppm, the highest ever released in the industry, this extraordinary dram embodies its island origins and carries its phenol count with an effortless grace.

Unveiled in 2014, Octomore 06.3 Islay Barley was made with barley grown on Islay. In fact, the crop was grown in the field known as Lorgba on Octomore farm! As ever with Bruichladdich's Octomore expressions, it's heavily, heavily peated, with the 06.3 sitting at a massive 258 PPM. It's not the thump to the head with a peat block that you might be expecting; Bruichladdich have produced a hugely flavoursome and hugely impressive whisky with real depth and elegance. 

Like its Islay neighbour Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich has traditionally been an un-peated single malt, mostly owing to its requirements by the blenders who owned it. The last of these was Whyte and Mackay, who eventually shut it down in 1995, deeming it surplus to requirements. They sold the distillery to Murray McDavid in 2001, who launched the peated Port Charlotte and heavily-peated Octomore single malts in 2006 and 2008. A recommissioned Lomond still also now produces the popular Botanist gin there.