Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 17.3 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 17.3 is the boldest bottle of the 2026 Octomore 17 series — and arguably the most terroir-driven whisky Bruichladdich has ever made. This 700mL bottle is 60.9% ABV (121.8 proof), distilled from barley peated to a staggering 132.1 PPM (phenol level measured at the malt stage — Bruichladdich's own claim is that Octomore is the world's most heavily peated Scotch whisky series).
What sets 17.3 apart is provenance: 100% Islay-grown Concerto barley from a single crop in Irene's Field on Octomore Farm — a single farm, single field, single vintage, distilled in 2020 and matured 5 years entirely on Islay. The spirit rested in first-fill bourbon barrels plus second-fill European oak: Ribera del Duero, Sauternes, Eiswein, and Syrah wine casks. As always, it's non-chill filtered with no added color, cut with Octomore Spring water. Available from September 2026 in limited, unrepeatable quantities (US SRP $279.99).
Tasting notes
Master Blender Adam Hannett describes it as "powerful yet composed, weather-beaten, coastal and deeply satisfying" — robust peat smoke carrying elegance and nuance from the wine-cask maturation.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 132.1 PPM — the peatiest expression of the 17 series
- Single-field Islay barley: Irene's Field, Octomore Farm — true Islay terroir
- Bourbon + four wine-cask styles, 5 years on Islay
- The annual must-have for peat and Islay whisky collectors
How to serve it
Neat in a copita or Glencairn — let it breathe; the smoke settles into deep coastal and wine-cask fruit. A teaspoon of water tames the 60.9% beautifully.
Frequently asked questions
What does 132.1 PPM mean?
It's the phenol level of the peated malted barley at malting (Bruichladdich's figure) — a measure of peat intensity at the grain stage, not the ppm in the finished bottle.
How does 17.3 differ from 17.1 and 17.2?
17.3 is the only edition made from 100% Islay-grown barley (a single field), peated far heavier (132.1 vs 81.0 PPM), and matured in a bourbon-plus-wine-cask combination.
Is it a limited edition?
Yes — the 17 series expressions are annual, limited, and unrepeatable; once 17.3 sells out it won't return.