Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 17.2 pushes the Octomore philosophy toward cask-driven richness, combining super-heavily peated Islay single malt with an unusually fruit-forward European oak maturation program.
Distilled in 2020 from the 2019 harvest of 100% Scottish mainland Concerto barley, the malt was peated to 81.0 PPM before spending four years in second-fill French oak casks with a history of Californian red wine and bourbon. The whisky was then finished in first-fill Port barriques, adding layers of berries, dark fruit, spice and sweetness around Octomore's unmistakable peat structure.
Bottled at a powerful 59.5% ABV / 119 proof, Edition 17.2 opens with raspberry, blackcurrant preserve, ripe stone fruit and floral sweetness, followed by toasted oak, clove, aniseed and dry wood-fired smoke. As it develops, coastal iodine, leather, coconut and ginger bring added depth and freshness.
The palate is rich and viscous, layering strawberry, blackberry, cassis, barley sugar and dark syrup before peppery peat smoke, lemon zest and lime oils cut through the sweetness. Port influence amplifies the fruit and spice without burying the barley or the distinctive smoky Octomore character.
For collectors and peat enthusiasts, Octomore 17.2 is an especially compelling comparison bottle alongside 17.1: the barley and peat level are shared, but the radically different oak treatment shows just how strongly cask selection can reshape the same underlying spirit.
Key Features
- Octomore Edition 17.2
- 5 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- 59.5% ABV / 119 proof
- 81.0 PPM
- 700mL bottle
- 100% Scottish Mainland Concerto barley
- Distilled in 2020 from the 2019 barley harvest
- Super-heavily peated
- Four years in second-fill French oak
- Casks previously associated with Californian red wine and bourbon
- Finished in first-fill Port barriques
- Raspberry, cassis, strawberry and dark-fruit character
- Peppery peat, citrus, oak and maritime salinity
- Close-to-cask-strength bottling
- Limited annual Octomore release
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep amber.
Nose: Raspberry, blackcurrant preserve, ripe red fruit, stone-fruit jam and Turkish Delight-style florals, joined by toasted oak, clove, aniseed, dry smoke, barley flour, leather, coastal iodine, coconut and ginger.
Palate: Viscous and fruit-rich with strawberry, blackberry, cassis, barley sugar and dark syrup, followed by peppery peat, earthy smoke, lemon zest, lime oil and balanced oak tannin.
Finish: Long and luxurious with raisins, toasted oak, sweet malt, maritime salt and char, leaving persistent peat smoke and gentle spice.
How to Enjoy
Serve Octomore 17.2 neat in a Glencairn or tulip-shaped whisky glass and allow it several minutes to open. The high strength benefits from time in the glass, revealing more berries, citrus, Port sweetness and smoky complexity.
At 59.5% ABV, add water gradually rather than all at once. A few drops can reveal more raspberry, cassis, lemon, barley sweetness and oak spice while softening the alcohol and allowing the peat to become more layered.
For food pairings, try dark chocolate, smoked duck, aged blue cheese, charcuterie, grilled lamb, blackberry desserts or roasted nuts.
FAQ
What is Octomore 17.2?
It is a 5-year-old super-heavily peated Islay single malt from Bruichladdich's Octomore 17 Series, distinguished by its French oak maturation and Port-barrique finish.
How old is Octomore 17.2?
It is aged 5 years.
What proof is Octomore 17.2?
It is bottled at 59.5% ABV, equivalent to 119 proof.
How peated is it?
The malt is peated to 81.0 PPM.
What barley is used?
It is distilled from 100% Scottish Mainland Concerto barley, from the same batch used for Octomore 17.1.
What casks are used for Octomore 17.2?
The whisky spends four years in second-fill French oak associated with Californian red wine and bourbon before being finished in first-fill Port barriques.
What does the “.2” designation mean?
Octomore .2 expressions use Scottish barley like their .1 counterpart but explore a more experimental cask maturation profile. For 17.2, the defining element is its French oak and Port influence.
What does Octomore 17.2 taste like?
Expect raspberry, blackcurrant, strawberry, cassis, raisins, citrus, toasted oak, clove, pepper, maritime salt and persistent peat smoke.
How is 17.2 different from 17.1?
Both use the same Scottish mainland barley and are peated to 81.0 PPM, but 17.1 is matured in first-fill bourbon barrels while 17.2 uses French oak and a Port-barrique finish, giving 17.2 a darker, fruitier and more wine-influenced profile.
