A distillery exclusive, Octomore 13.4 joins the super-heavily peated 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3 to complete the collection.
Octomore 13.4 is distilled from 100% Scottish Mainland Concerto barley and malted to a heavily peated 137.3 PPM.
Bottled at 61.6%, the spirit has matured in first fill bourbon casks, filled back in 2016, before being recasked into American Virgin oak casks later that year.
Providing a compelling comparison within the Octomore portfolio, the latest 13.4 release uses the same batch of barley as Octomore 13.1 and 13.2 and is also malted to 137.3 PPM.
With each whisky matured for five years, the differentiation is all down to each specific maturation profile, with the 13.1 matured in fresh ex-American oak casks and 13.2 in first fill Oloroso butts.
The release of Octomore 13.4 provides a unique opportunity to compare the spirit with its predecessors, showcasing the striking difference that the cask type can impart on the liquid.
The American Virgin oak casks have a high toast level specific to Octomore 13.4’s five-year maturation, adding to the whisky’s signature smoky character.
Imparting a wealth of flavour, the American oak brings complexity and depth to the single malt, with notes of toasted oak, sweet vanilla, toffee and subtle spice.
Bruichladdich Distillery Head Distiller, Adam Hannett, said: “Completing the Octomore 13 series, the 13.4 edition once more demonstrates the delicate balance of intense peak smoke with our elegant signature style.
"The maturation profile combined with strong peat levels and cask strength has resulted in a truly unique and complex single malt.”
The team say "in each new Octomore series, the distillery explores the very limits of single malt whisky.
"Distilled with quality not quantity in mind, the experimental collection of limited bottlings continues to push the boundaries of whisky making, exploring barley provenance, terroir, varying peat levels and cask management in the pursuit of flavour. "
Priced at £170 Octomore 13.4 is available to purchase now at the Bruichladdie website.
