Bruichladdich Octomore (2013) Single Cask UK Exclusive

Bruichladdich Octomore (2013) Single Cask UK Exclusive

Region: Islay

ABV: 59.4%

Price: £440.00

Distilled from barley peated to 107 ppm, this whisky was casked in 2013 in a first-fill bourbon barrel and matured for 11 years before being bottled in 2024. A total of 246 bottles were released exclusively for the UK market. 

Nose

Initially, the nose presents notes of dry wood, bonfire smoke, bandages, oat biscuits, and limeade. Despite the 59% ABV, it doesn’t have an ethanol punch, though there are hints of black pepper spice. Going back, we pick up dried apricots, sea spray, candy floss, and chopped apples, along with hay, lemon peel, and barley sugars. It’s not as peated as we were expecting. 

Palate

The palate is notably sweet and surprisingly easy to drink for the ABV. Barley sugars, salted caramel, and coconut take the lead, followed by a not unpleasant hit of peat in the form of tar, charred staves, and ash. There’s a pleasant oiliness to the mouthfeel, adding to the dram. The finish is good, with lingering pepper spice, ash, and just enough sweetness remaining on the tongue. It’s not as punchy as one might expect from an Octomore, but the balance between sweetness and peat is spot on.

Nose (with water)

With reduction, we’re noticing much more warehouse funk and must, but also a stronger presence of alcohol. It becomes very citrus-forward, with a medicinal backbone of antiseptic that reminds us of Hibiscrub. Additional notes of tobacco, burnt brown bread, and hessian cloth emerge with patience.

Palate (with water)

The palate has developed more smoke, giving it a slightly younger impression. The mouthfeel remains good, though it leans more towards greasy rather than oily. The finish is still of a good length, with plenty of sweetness and peat lingering. However, the spice lingers slightly longer than the other notes on the tongue, accompanied by a hint of grapefruit bitterness. 

Conclusion

The time spent in the cask has softened the spirit’s rougher edges, resulting in a very enjoyable dram. That said, one might question the appeal of a more refined Octomore—surely part of its charm is the intense, assault on your senses. That aside, we have to admit that what’s in our glasses is undeniably good.

Score: 8/10

Value

You’d be forgiven for thinking the price on this one was a typo. Personally, if we ever try to pick this bottle up, it’ll be at a deep discount on the auction sites.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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