Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 6.3 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Preceded by its reputation, the 2014 edition of this already legendary whisky employs barley exclusively grown on Islay. It sits with Bruichladdich's core belief that "terroir matters" when it comes to making great whisky. Grain agriculture on Islay is extremely difficult and fraught with risks from weather and wildlife, so the tonnage yielded per acre was very low, achieving little more than half that expected from a conventional mainland grower. Sourced from a field called 'Lorgba' on Octomore Farm, the barley was peated to an unheard of 258ppm. Trickle distilled, it was then matured exclusively in American oak. A completely natural whisky, a tiny amount of water from the farm spring was used to achieve an abv of 64%

At the time of writing, this is the most heavily peated whisky in the world.
With 6.2 released only for the Duty Free market, 6.3 comes as a much welcomed addition for peat freaks everywhere. Limited to 18,000 bottles. Brace yourself for something utterly different...

Tasting note: Bright pale gold with pale straw edges. Intense opening sniff of peppermint rock lolly and vanilla wafer, blows off to reveal weighty, layered peat with an earthy edge – wet terracotta then woolshed overlaid by a stunning butter-menthol lozenge / lavender-like freshness - it sounds incongruous but the mix is wonderful. Five minutes in the glass hints towards peppermint chocolate and lucerne mulch. Diverse and captivating. Creamy, semi sweet entry. Spices nip at the tongue but the overall balance is first rate. Mid palate is creamy, intense with butter-menthol, vanilla and dark chocolate followed by a slow-motion avalanche of sooty peat. Finish is oily, almost bittersweet then ashy, peppery and mildly tannic with a lingering undercurrent of barley sugar sweetness. Perhaps not the astonishing persistence of some previous releases (or is it just understated?) Whichever way - here's the new benchmark in ultra-peated whisky. 64% Alc./Vol.