Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 16.1 Scotch Whisky
Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 16.1 Scotch Whisky is a 59.3% ABV (118.6 proof), 700mL 5-year-old super-heavily peated Islay single malt — distilled from 100% Scottish Mainland Concerto barley malted to 101.4 PPM and matured exclusively in first-fill American oak bourbon barrels — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
The ".1" editions are the reference points of each Octomore series — the cleanest expression of that year's barley and peat, with nothing but bourbon wood in the way. Edition 16.1 is exactly that: the Series 16 starting line (launched September 2025), a marriage of spirit distilled in 2019 from the 2018 Concerto harvest, rested five years in first-fill bourbon barrels, and bottled near cask strength without chill filtration or added color. Head distiller Adam Hannett's philosophy is on full display here — the tall, narrow stills and careful cuts keep the spirit light and viscous so that, despite the extreme peat, the smoke arrives dry and campfire-like rather than medicinal. This is the bottle the rest of the series is measured against.
Tasting notes (press and trade consensus): nose of sea spray, orchard fruits, dried heather, camomile, and delicate peat smoke; a palate of salted caramel, honeyed melon, apricot, chocolate, coconut, and earthy minerality; a long finish of lingering peat smoke, black pepper, sea salt, and toffee.
Why buy: Every Octomore series starts with the .1 — and collectors know the reference editions are the benchmarks against which the whole run is judged. At 59.3% ABV and five years old, it's all power and purity in one matte-black tube. Explore more Bruichladdich and browse more Scotch whisky and whiskey at Del Mesa Liquor.
FAQ — people also ask:
Q: What does "16.1" mean in the Octomore series?
A: The ".1" is the reference-point edition of Series 16 — the cleanest expression of that year's barley and peat, matured only in first-fill bourbon barrels.
Q: What is the PPM of Octomore 16.1?
A: 101.4 PPM per Bruichladdich's Series 16 launch materials.
Q: What is the ABV of Octomore 16.1?
A: 59.3% ABV (118.6 proof), in a 700mL bottle — bottled near cask strength.
Q: How should I drink Octomore 16.1?
A: Neat first, then a few drops of water — it opens the orchard fruit and honeyed malt behind the smoke. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.