Bruichladdich Distillery launches Octomore Series 16

Bruichladdich Distillery has officially launched the highly anticipated Octomore Series 16, the latest instalment of its Islay single malt whisky. Known as “The Impossible Equation”, Octomore continues to challenge conventional ideas around age, peating levels and strength. Designed to provoke and surprise, each expression in the series is crafted to deliver depth and complexity despite its youth and intense peat content.

Master Blender Adam Hannett explains, “Octomore exists to provoke and challenge, something that is on paper so polarising, it shouldn’t really work. But with each new expression, the spirit continues to surprise and delight with its depth, its campfire smoke and its incredible flavour profile.”

The 16th series features three new expressions, each aged for five years and showcasing unique cask choices, barley provenance and sky-high phenol levels. Octomore 16.1, priced at USD 204.99, is made from 100 percent Scottish Mainland Concerto Barley, malted to 101.4 PPM and matured in first-fill bourbon casks. Bottled at 59.3 percent ABV, it delivers an elegant yet powerful experience with notes of salted caramel, apricot, chocolate and a wave of lingering smoke.

Octomore 16.2, priced at USD 244.99, uses the same distillate as 16.1 but is matured in an innovative combination of Oloroso, Bordeaux, Madeira and Portuguese Moscatel casks, marking a first for the brand. Bottled at 58.1 percent ABV, it offers a rich and layered profile of caramelised sugar, roasted nuts, dried fruits and sweet smoke.

Octomore 16.3, the most terroir-focused of the series, is priced at USD 279.99 and showcases single-field barley grown exclusively in Church Field on Octomore Farm, Islay. Malted to a staggering 189.5 PPM and bottled at 61.6 percent ABV, it is aged in a mix of Bourbon, Sauternes and Pedro Ximénez casks. The result is a whisky with honeyed malt, toasted grain, earthiness and coastal salinity that speaks directly of its island origins.

Each expression in the Octomore Series 16 is un-chill filtered, made without added colour, and brought to strength using Octomore spring water from Islay. The full lineup is now available online at us.bruichladdich.com