Bruichladdich Octomore 13.2 | 5 Year Old | 2022 Limited Edition | 70cl, 58.3% ABV

The Octomore series from Bruichladdich is not for the faint-hearted. Widely recognised as the most heavily peated single malt Scotch whisky in the world, each annual release pushes the boundaries of what peat smoke can achieve in a whisky glass — and the 13.2 is no exception. Aged for 5 years in Oloroso sherry casks before being bottled as a 2022 limited edition release at a robust 58.3% ABV, this is a whisky that manages to be simultaneously explosive and nuanced.

What makes Octomore endlessly fascinating is not just the sheer intensity of peat — though that is considerable — but the way Bruichladdich's distilling expertise coaxes extraordinary complexity from such a young spirit. Five years in Oloroso sherry casks has added a rich, fruity sweetness that works in dramatic contrast to the intense smoke, creating a whisky of bold, layered character that defies its age statement at every turn.

The 13.2 expression focuses on Scottish barley, reflecting Bruichladdich's deep commitment to provenance and terroir — a philosophy that sets the distillery apart from virtually every other producer of heavily peated whisky.