Octomore 17.2 Edition Bruichladdich 81 ppm Single Islay Malt Whisky 59,5%

Berries arrive first, warm and dense like jam straight from the pot. Then the smoke drifts in, slowly, the way embers flare when a grill gets some air. Octomore 17.2 is malted to 81 ppm and should smell like a fire station, yet the Port casks have slipped a velvet glove over the whole thing.

Expert description

Octomore 17.2 is a 5 year old Islay Single Malt Whisky, matured in French oak casks, finished in Port barriques and bottled at 59.5%. It comes from Bruichladdich and is the second release in Octomore Edition 17, this year's instalment of the distillery's super heavily peated series, which went on sale on 1 September 2026.

17.2 and 17.1 begin in the same place: one batch of 100% Scottish mainland Concerto barley, malted to 81.0 ppm. After that the two part ways. 17.1 spent its entire life in 1st fill bourbon casks. 17.2 took a more winding road through the wood.

For the first four years the spirit sat in 2nd fill French oak casks that had held Californian red wine and then bourbon. The final year was spent in 1st fill Port barriques. According to Bruichladdich, Octomore has never been matured in that exact combination before.

The casks put the fruit at the front of the queue. Red wine oak and Port bring strawberry, blackberry and blackcurrant, while the smoke turns drier and more like embers than medicine. The distillery itself describes less smoke on the nose but smoke running through the whole structure. The whisky is non-chill filtered, free of added colour, matured entirely on Islay and reduced with Islay spring water.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe red berries and a soft, jammy sweetness. Raspberry and blackcurrant preserve, floral hints of Turkish delight, toasted oak, clove and aniseed. The smoke is dry and recalls the embers of a wood fire more than phenols. Behind it sit barley flour, fresh linen, leather and a touch of coastal iodine, and with time coconut and ginger appear in the glass.

Palate

Supple and viscous. It coats the tongue at once with wine-poached berries and spiced fruit: strawberry, blackberry, cassis, then barley sugar and dark syrup. The peat builds slowly, peppery and earthy, while lemon zest and lime oil brighten everything. Oak tannin and a steady warmth keep it balanced.

Finish

Long and round. Raisins, toasted oak and sweet malt slide into dry, salty, maritime notes and a little char. When the fruit has faded, peat smoke and gentle spice remain.

Specifications

Name: Octomore 17.2 Islay Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 59.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 2nd fill French oak casks, previously red wine and bourbon, finished in 1st fill Port barriques
Peat level: 81.0 ppm
Barley: 100% Scottish mainland barley, Concerto
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2026
Edition: Octomore Edition 17.2

Flavour profile

Heavily peated · Berry fruit · Port-influenced · Spicy · Maritime

Did you know?

Ppm is measured on the malted barley before distillation, not on the whisky in the bottle. Still, it is a useful yardstick: according to Whisky Advocate, 17.2 carries about twice the peat of a Port Charlotte 10 and roughly four times that of a Highland Park 12.

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Frequently asked questions about Octomore 17.2

What is the difference between Octomore 17.1 and 17.2?

The casks. Both are made from the same batch of Scottish mainland barley, malted to 81.0 ppm, but 17.1 matured in 1st fill bourbon casks and is bottled at 59.7%. 17.2 spent four years in French oak casks that previously held red wine and bourbon, then a year in Port barriques, and is bottled at 59.5%. That brings more berry fruit and sweetness around the smoke.

Is Octomore 17.2 worth the money?

Yes, if you want an Octomore where the fruit is there from the first sip. It belongs to an annual, limited release, and Bruichladdich says Octomore has never before been matured in this combination of casks. It is non-chill filtered, free of added colour and made by a distillery that has built its name on playing with barley, peat and wood.

What does Octomore 17.2 taste like: mostly smoke or mostly fruit?

Both, but the fruit comes first. You meet strawberry, blackberry and blackcurrant with pepper and citrus, and the peat smoke builds slowly behind them. The smoke is dry and recalls embers more than medicine. The finish is long and ends salty and charred.

Is Octomore 17.2 a good first Octomore?

Yes, if you like peated whisky but do not want the smoke standing alone. In LoveScotch's comparison of Series 17, 17.2 is the most approachable of the first three releases, because the Port casks soften the edges with berry fruit. It is still 59.5% and 81 ppm, so it is far from gentle.

How should you drink Octomore 17.2?

Neat in a tulip-shaped glass, left to rest for a few minutes. At 59.5% it handles water, and a few drops can open up the berries and spice. Add a little at a time. See our range of whisky glasses.

What is Octomore, and who makes it?

Octomore is Bruichladdich's series of heavily peated single malt, running since 2008. Every release is five years old and bottled close to cask strength, and each year is a new experiment in barley, ppm and casks. If you want more smoky whisky from the island, we carry a wide range of Islay Whisky.