Bruichladdich – Octomore 11.2 (70cl, 58.6%)

Octomore 11.2 is a heavily peated single malt from Bruichladdich, in a 70cl bottle at 58.6% and malted to 139.6 ppm. It was distilled in 2014 from 100% Scottish barley of the 2013 harvest, and the release is limited to 18,000 bottles. Two parcels were married. The first, 25% of the whole, spent its entire maturation in ex-Pauillac wine casks. The second, 75%, was filled into ex-American oak casks and then spent 18 months in ex-St Julien wine casks. It is non-chill-filtered and free of colouring, with five years of maturation on Islay. The nose opens with rich oak, dried fruit, citrus and smoke, then maritime notes and malt sugar, with figs, dried apricot and cherry coming through. The palate has a soft, smooth texture.