Octomore 11.1

Octomore 11.1
Picture: The Whisky Exchange


The famous black bottles from Bruichladdich need very little introduction. The heavily-peated Islay single malt brand Octomore Bruichladdich distillery made the ppm-race (phenol parts per million) a gimmick with eye-watering values of +200ppm. 

Octomore 11.1 has been matured in American oak casks from Jim Beam, Jack Daniels and Heaven Hill for five years after it was distilled in 2014.

Time to dive straight into the glass! 

Identity Card Octomore 11.1

  • Official bottling from Bruichladdich Distillery (Islay)
  • 5-year-old  single malt Scotch whisky
  • Matured in ex-bourbon casks
  • Alcohol: 59.4% ABV
Colour: Pale yellow. Straw or white wine. 

Nose: Pungent with sweet smoke and apricot confit. Mezcal style. Coriander, candied lemon and black pepper. Young grapes and cedarwood. Grains, unripe melon and salted lemons. A briney breeze through a lemon orchard carrying whiffs of smoke. 
With water: Grapefruit and verbena. 

Taste: Big & bold. Pepper, smoke and vetiver. Citrus notes, roasted coconuts. popcorn and wood ash. Creosote, butter, Jerusalem artichoke, malt and yeast. 
With water: Citrus, sugar and aged grappa. 

Finish: creamy smoke. Sweet and herbal. A pretty long finish. 

This is classic Octomore exactly as it was intended to be. Young, big and bold. The brand may be gimmicky but every sip takes you on a smoky road trip with a Lotus Elise Series 1. No frills but incredibly fun.

Sample: Bruichladdich, Picture: The Whisky Exchange

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