Bruichladdich Octomore 8.1 Scottish Barley

The famous Octomore smoky dram tweaked with 100% Scottish Barley.

The Bruichladdich Distillery is very impressive. In 1881 the Harvey brothers — who came from a Whisky family dynasty — built a cathedral-like, state-of-the-art Victorian still house with unheard-of 6-meter tall stills. Now owned by Remy Cointreau, the distillery remains pretty much the same as it has for more than 100 years. They proudly practice slow fermentation and slow distillation using traditional wooden vats and huge washes made from towering Douglas Fir. The distillery produces non-peated Bruichladdich Single Malt, Port Charlotte which is peated in the classic Islay style, the heavily peated Octomore, and The Botanist Islay Dry Gin.

These days, Scotland just cannot grow enough grain to meet demand, so much of the Barley used in Single Malts is imported — perfectly fine stuff, it just had to arrive in a boat. Bruichladdich wanted to showcase the difference that small changes in wood and malt can make in their Octomore Single Malt. So, Bruichladdich Octomore 8.1 Scottish Barley is made from 100% Scottish barley harvested locally in 2007 and peated to 167 ppm phenols — which is fairly smoky, but not shockingly so. The Spirit was fermented and distilled in 2008, and was aged in ex-Bourbon casks. And since it’s delivered at more than 59% ABV, you will be able to savor every drop.