Octomore Edition 17.3

Profile: The Octomore Edition 17.3 at a glance

• Octomore 17.3: Single-field power from Islay
• Third release in the new Octomore Seventeen Series
• Aged for 5 years in Bourbon and wine casks
• 60.9% ABV with a powerful 132.1 ppm
• Barley from a single field meets uncompromising Islay character

Portrait: What makes the Octomore Edition 17.3 special

Octomore 17.3 is a single malt for those who believe that while five years may not be retirement age for a whisky, it is certainly enough time to make a lasting impression.

Octomore is produced by the Islay distillery Bruichladdich, which has made a habit of challenging entrenched whisky conventions since its revival in 2001. The brand champions transparency, provenance, and the idea that a whisky should proudly reveal its origins. With Octomore, this philosophy is put into practice with particular conviction—and a hefty dose of peat.

For Edition 17.3, the barley comes exclusively from a single field at Octomore Farm on Islay. This is no blend of barley from across Scotland, but a genuine example of single-field whisky craftsmanship. This places the grain’s provenance firmly in the spotlight—after all, with a fine whisky, it is always good to know where the journey began.

After a five-year maturation period, Octomore 17.3 is finished in a remarkably diverse selection of casks: first-fill bourbon casks meet second-fill casks from Ribera del Duero, Sauternes, icewine, and Syrah. It sounds almost like an international delegation that has gathered on Islay by chance for a whisky conference.

With an ABV of 60.9% and a phenol content of 132.1 ppm, Octomore 17.3 certainly makes no attempt to downplay its intensity. This bottling is part of Bruichladdich’s "Super-Heavy-Peated" series and impressively demonstrates the distillery’s uncompromising approach to barley, peat, casks, and provenance.

Octomore has long since become more than just a particularly robust whisky series: the brand stands for experimentation, transparent provenance, and a commitment to constantly pushing the boundaries of Scotch single malt.

The global release of Edition 17.3 launched on September 1, 2026. In short: an Islay whisky, aged for five years, made from barley grown in a single field, and bottled at 60.9% ABV—this is a whisky that makes no secret of its bold character. And that is precisely the point.

Tasting Notes: This is how the Octomore Edition 17.3 tastes like

• Nose: On the nose, the Octomore 17.3 initially reveals notes of salted caramel, smoked apple, and toasted coconut. These are complemented by subtle hints of praline and vanilla cream. Sweet first-fill oak meets earthy, deeply charred peat, accompanied by a pleasantly salty, maritime freshness. The aroma is powerful, complex, and distinctly coastal.
• Palate: On the palate, dry, ashy smoke and robust peat take the lead initially. Underlying notes of sweet malt, salted caramel, and vanilla emerge. Citrus oils introduce a clear, fresh quality, while a maritime salinity adds an extra dimension of interest. With a little time and air, the whisky’s elements harmonize further: spirit, cask, and barley increasingly meld into a profile that is both powerful and surprisingly balanced.
• Finish: The finish is long, powerful, and dry. Ashy peat smoke remains prominent, alongside sweet malt and a distinctive maritime salinity. An earthy, coastal character joins the mix, reinforcing the impression of an Islay whisky shaped by the elements. It is an intense, enduring finish that lingers long after the last sip.