Octomore Chromatic Signatures - Seventeen Series 17.2 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 5 Year Old

Octomore 17.2, part of the Chromatic Signatures series, is a super heavily peated Islay single malt made from 100% Scottish mainland Concerto barley, malted to 81.0 PPM. Aged for five years and bottled at 59.5% ABV, it spent four years in second-fill French oak casks that had previously held Californian red wine and bourbon, before being finished in first-fill Port barriques.

The unusual maturation brings a rich fruit character to Octomore’s powerful peat, with notes of strawberry, blackberry and cassis developing alongside steadily building smoke. Pepper and earthy spice are lifted by lemon zest and lime oil, while the Port finish adds further fruit, sweetness and depth without overwhelming the barley-led character.

Although the smoke is less overt on the nose than some Octomore releases, it remains deeply smoky in structure. Rich, vibrant and carefully balanced, Edition 17.2 combines dark berries, citrus, spice and peat in a distinctive expression of Bruichladdich’s experimental approach to heavily peated whisky.