Bruichladdich Octomore 15.3 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Lands at a stonking 307.2ppm! - just shy of Octomore 8.3, the peatiest whisky ever made.

Other reviews... 100% Octomore Farm-grown barley, matured in first-fill bourbon barrels (69%) and first-fill oloroso sherry hogsheads (31%). 307.2ppm. The big boy of the year exudes sherry from the top. Nutty and citrusy, with a sharp, spiced orange peel character, this whisky (as is often the case) feels less smoky than either of the above two Octomores. It’s earthy and laden with petrol, but also filled with fruit. An incense-like quality builds with time in glass. On the palate, the 61.3% abv whisky is aggressive and tight, a pungent attack featuring lemon and orange peel, followed by a heavy dose of florals. At full proof it’s a bruiser, but water curiously brings out more of the whisky’s earthier tones. More airtime helps the nuttier aspects of the whisky to show themselves more clearly, the citrus meandering more toward slightly bitter grapefruit peel notes, backed up by plenty of salty sea spray. Immersive and never short of intense, with a petrol chaser. 122.6 proof. - drinkhacker.com

 ...the unmistakable note of sherry cask maturation, with ex-oloroso nicely melding with the peat. There was a small hint of sulphur in the mix – not offensively so, but enough to suggest some of the casks in the line-up were tainted. Heavily peated spirit matured in sherry casks can occasionally be hit or miss; this expression leant over on to the “hit” side for me…I’d have loved it more, but I’m admittedly not a fan of sulphur. Those with a blind spot to the fault will likely push 15.3 to the top of their list, and fair enough. Despite the outrageous phenol level of 307.2ppm, the whisky was – as Octomore always is – balanced and well-behaved. - whiskyandwisdom.com

...this one obviously has a lot of peat upfront, particularly on the nose. While that ashy component lingers on the palate, there’s a zestfulness here with a lot of orange peel, dried fruit and toffee on the palate. The fruit notes shine with a few drops of water, which you’ll definitely want to use. - insidehook.com