Bruichladdich – Octomore 6.2 (70cl, 58.2%)

Bruichladdich Octomore 6.2 is a single malt from Islay, bottled at 58.2% in a 70cl bottle. It is peated to 167 ppm, which places it among the most heavily peated whiskies in the world, and was released as a special edition of Scottish Barley in 18,000 bottles. Jim McEwan matured it in French Limousin oak casks that previously held Cognac. The colour is sunny lemon. The nose joins peat smoke with sea breeze and a touch of iodine, then juniper, pine, aniseed and cinnamon, followed by blueberry, blackberry, cherry, caramelised orange and dark chocolate. The palate is bold, smoky and sweet, with the Islay and Cognac influences clearly defined.