Peated Scotch fans, rejoice. Bruichladdich Distillery’s annual Octomore series is back for its 16th iteration. As in previous years, it’s a trio collection of some of the world’s most intensely peated Scotch—with a special fourth bottling to come a little later this year.
The first three releases—espressions 16.1, 16.2, and 16.3—go on sale starting Tuesday, September 2nd. The fourth and final bottling for 2025 carries the code 16.4 and will be available exclusively via ecommerce starting this November.
Bruichladdich introduced Octomore in 2008, and when measured by phenols in parts per million (PPM) of dried malt, the line has resulted in some of the most heavily peated Scotch ever produced. Whisky is generally considered “heavily peated” with a PPM more than 30; Octomore 8.3 measured a whopping 309 PPM, and last year’s 15.3 was close behind at 307.2.
But while those numbers might indicate a shockingly smoky dram, Octomore has built a fan base in large part due to remarkably balanced flavors and “a dry, campfire smoke that belies its high phenols,” according to Bruichladdich. The distillery often refers to the process behind Octomore as “The Impossible Equation” for the unlikely (and popular) flavors derived from its intersection of age, peat levels, and alcohol by volume.
“Octomore exists to provoke and challenge,” says Adam Hannet, Bruichladdich’s Head Distiller, in a press statement. “[S]omething that is on paper so polarising, it shouldn’t really work—it’s too young, too strong and too peaty….But with each new Octomore expression, the spirit continues to surprise and delight with its depth, its campfire smoke and its incredible flavour profile.”
This year’s Octomore lineup includes the following four single malt whiskies. As per usual, the expressions are non-chill filtered and bottled at their natural color.
- Octomore 16.1: The first in the annual series often considered a “reference point.” It’s made with 100% Scottish Mainland Concerto Barley, which is malted to 101.4 PPM before distillation. It’s aged entirely in first fill bourbon barrels. The whisky carries a five year age statement and is bottled at 59.3% ABV, close to cask strength. According to the brand, it features intense peat smoke with surprising delicacy, and falvors of salted caramel, melon, apricot, chocolate, and coconut. It carries an MSRP of $204.99.
- Octomore 16.2: This bottling features the same malt base and distillate as 16.1, which was then aged across Oloroso and Bordeaux casks before finishing in casks that previously held Madeira and Portuguese Moscatel. Also aged for five years, it’s bottled at 58.1% ABV and carries a suggested retail price of $244.99. The brand highlights flavors of caramelized sugar, roasted nuts, and dried fruits.
- Octomore 16.3: This expression utilizes barley originating from Church Field on Octomore Farm, Islay, making it a single estate, single vintage whisky. The barley is malted to 189.5 PPM before distillation, and the single malt is aged across ex-bourbon, Sauternes, and Pedro Ximénez casks. It’s bottled at 61.6% ABV and carries a suggested retail price of $279.99.
- Octomore 16.4: The final expression in this year’s series, Octomore 16.4 won’t be available in September with its siblings. Instead, it will be an ecommerce exclusive starting on November 4th. It features barley malted to 189.5 PPM and aged in French virgin oak. The brand says it features flavors of toasted oak, coffee beans, and dark chocolate.
Bruichladdich Distillery is one of 10 whisky distilleries on Islay, an island off the coast of Scotland renowned for its whisky making. In addition to Octomore, the distillery produces Bruichladdich (unpeated single malt), Port Charlotte (heavily peated single malt), and The Botanist Gin. The distillery has been owned by spirits giant Remy Cointreau since 2012.