Octomore 17.1 Edition Bruichladdich 81 ppm Single Islay Malt Whisky 59,7%

The smoke arrives first, and it's easy to be fooled into thinking that's all there is. Then comes vanilla, then pear drops, and last the salt of Loch Indaal, cutting straight through it. Octomore 17.1 is the reference bottle of the year, and it carries its 81 PPM with surprising calm.

Expert description

Octomore 17.1 is a 5 year old Islay Single Malt Whisky, matured for its entire life in first fill bourbon casks and bottled at 59.7%.

Bruichladdich on Islay is behind Octomore, and 17.1 is the bottle the distillery itself uses as the yardstick for Series 17. The .1 release is matured in bourbon casks every year, which lets you taste what barley and peat do when no other cask gets in the way. It came out on 1 September 2026.

The barley is Concerto, grown on the Scottish mainland and peated to 81.0 PPM. That is roughly twice as much as Bruichladdich's own Port Charlotte 10 and about four times as much as a Highland Park 12.

The casks have held bourbon once before, and they give vanilla, sweetness and a hint of coconut, which helps keep the smoke in check. Before bottling, the whisky is reduced with spring water from Islay.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla milkshake and crumbly fudge, then green apple and a breath of sea spray. Dry peat smoke and toasted oak sit underneath. Give it a few minutes in the glass and yellow cherry, iodine, lemon balm and bay leaf appear.

Palate

Warm custard and pear drops open things up. Then the smoke builds in waves, dry and earthy, with the glow of smouldering oak and ash. Roasted hazelnuts, campfire marshmallows and a cool touch of menthol turn up along the way.

Finish

Salt cuts through the sweetness and sharpens the edges. In the end, a bit of sweet peat and campfire smoke lingers.

Specifications

Name: Octomore 17.1 5 year Islay Single Malt Whisky 59.7%
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 59.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks
Peated malt: 81.0 PPM
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: 17.1 in Octomore Series 17

Flavour profile

Heavily peated · Smoky · Vanilla sweet · Maritime · Citrus fresh

Investment potential

Medium. Octomore is released as an annual series in limited quantities, and the .1 bottle is the reference that collectors like to have in the row.

Did you know?

In Series 17, only 17.3 uses barley from Islay itself. It was grown in a single field, Irene's Field on Octomore Farm, two miles from the distillery, and peated to 132.1 PPM. 17.1 uses barley from the Scottish mainland instead.

See our full range of Bruichladdich

See our full range of Octomore

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently Asked Questions about Octomore 17.1

How peated is Octomore 17.1?

81.0 PPM, measured in the dried malt. The number tells you how much peat smoke the barley has taken on, but not the whole story of the smoke in the glass. Here the dry, earthy smoke sits alongside vanilla and salt, so the whisky comes across as more rounded than the figure suggests. You can read more in our article on the difference between peat and the flavour of smoked whisky.

Is Octomore 17.1 worth it?

Yes, if you like heavily peated whisky. You get a 5 year old Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in first fill bourbon casks and bottled at 59.7%. It comes from an annual series in limited quantities, and the .1 release is the one Bruichladdich itself uses as a reference. If you only want one Octomore from the year, 17.1 is the clearest take on how barley, peat and bourbon oak taste together.

What's the difference between Octomore 17.1 and 17.2?

The casks. Both use the same barley and the same 81.0 PPM, but 17.1 has only been in first fill bourbon casks, while 17.2 has also spent time in port casks and is bottled at 59.5%. If you want barley, peat and vanilla with no detours, 17.1 is the one.

How do you drink Octomore 17.1?

Neat, in a tulip-shaped glass, and give it a couple of minutes before you taste. At 59.7%, a single drop of water can open up the sweeter notes, but try it without first. See our range of whisky glasses.

Is Octomore 17.1 a good first peated whisky?

Hardly. 81.0 PPM and 59.7% is a lot, even if the vanilla and sweetness take the edge off. If you've tried Islay whisky before, 17.1 is a good place to start with Octomore. If you're new to the style, begin with something gentler from our range of Islay Whisky.

What is Octomore and who makes it?

Octomore is Bruichladdich's series of heavily peated whiskies from Islay. Bruichladdich was founded in 1881 by the Harvey brothers on the shores of Loch Indaal. Each Octomore release is an experiment with barley, PPM or casks, and in 2026 the series consists of 17.1, 17.2 and 17.3.