Bruichladdich Octomore 16.1 5 Year Old Bourbon Cask Scottish Barley 70cl, 59.3%

Description

Bruichladdich Octomore 16.1 5 Year Old Bourbon Cask Scottish Barley 70cl, 59.3% is a super-heavily peated Islay single malt created as the reference expression for Octomore Series Sixteen. It was distilled from 100% Scottish Mainland Concerto barley, peated to 101.4 PPM and matured for five years entirely in first-fill bourbon barrels.

Distilled in 2019 from the 2018 barley harvest, Octomore 16.1 demonstrates how intense peat smoke can coexist with sweetness, fruit and delicate maritime character. Its first-fill bourbon maturation brings vanilla, salted caramel, honeyed melon and toasted oak while allowing the powerful Octomore spirit to remain clearly recognisable.

The palate combines immediate but controlled peat smoke with apricot, malt sugar, cinnamon and star anise. Sea salt, toffee, chocolate and coconut follow, accompanied by earthy minerality and a long smoky finish. Despite its formidable 59.3% strength and high phenol level, the whisky retains the elegance for which modern Octomore releases are known.

Released in 2025, Octomore 16.1 serves as the backbone of Series Sixteen and provides the natural comparison point for the differently matured 16.2 and Islay-barley 16.3 expressions.

Explore our Islay single malt whisky collection, or compare this release with Octomore 16.2 and Octomore 16.3.

Why Choose Bruichladdich Octomore 16.1 5 Year Old Bourbon Cask Scottish Barley 70cl, 59.3%

Bruichladdich Octomore 16.1 stands out because it combines an exceptional 101.4 PPM peat level with straightforward first-fill bourbon maturation. This allows drinkers to experience the core Octomore spirit without the additional influence of wine, sherry or specialist oak casks.

For whisky drinkers, it offers a powerful but surprisingly layered profile of orchard fruit, sea spray, salted caramel, apricot, chocolate, coconut and earthy smoke. The 59.3% strength provides exceptional concentration and texture, while a few drops of water can reveal additional fruit, florals and sweetness.

For collectors, the 2025 release year, Series Sixteen identity, five-year age statement and original matching presentation tin make it an important addition to a complete Octomore collection.

Ideal For.

This bottle is ideal for Octomore collectors looking for the benchmark 16.1 expression from Series Sixteen.

It is ideal for experienced whisky drinkers who enjoy super-heavily peated Islay single malts with high strength, maritime freshness, bourbon sweetness and lingering smoke.

It is also ideal for comparative tastings alongside Octomore 16.2 and 16.3, allowing drinkers to explore how cask selection and barley provenance influence the same super-heavily peated style.

Product Details

Product Name: Bruichladdich Octomore 16.1.

Full Listed Name: Bruichladdich Octomore 16.1 5 Year Old Bourbon Cask Scottish Barley.

Category: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Distillery: Bruichladdich Distillery.

Range: Octomore.

Series: Series Sixteen.

Edition: 16.1.

Country of Origin: Scotland.

Region: Islay.

Release Year: 2025.

Barley Harvest: 2018.

Distillation Year: 2019.

Age Statement: 5 Years Old.

Bottle Size: 70cl / 700ml.

ABV: 59.3%.

Barley Variety: Concerto.

Barley Provenance: 100% Scottish Mainland barley.

Peat Level: 101.4 PPM.

Peat Classification: Super-heavily peated.

Maturation: Full-term maturation in first-fill bourbon barrels.

Bottling Strength: High strength and bottled close to cask strength.

Maturation Location: Islay; Bruichladdich states that its whiskies are conceived, distilled, matured and bottled on the island.

Filtration: Non-chill filtered, as stated on the supplied bottle and presentation tin.

Colouring: No artificial colouring, as stated on the supplied bottle and presentation tin.

Official Colour: Spun gold.

Bottle Count: No confirmed public bottle count was found for Octomore 16.1.

Release Type: Limited-edition Series Sixteen bottling; not individually numbered.

Packaging: Black 70cl bottle supplied with the original grey cylindrical Octomore 16.1 presentation tin shown in the product image.

SEO Title: Octomore 16.1 Whisky | 5 Year Old 70cl, 59.3%

Suggested Image Alt Text: Octomore 16.1 Whisky 5 Year Old 70cl 59.3% bottle and tin

Recommended Internal Link Anchors: Islay single malt whisky collection, Octomore 16.2 and Octomore 16.3.

Recommended Outbound Link Anchor: official Bruichladdich Octomore 16.1 page.

Collector’s Note

Octomore 16.1 has strong collector appeal because the .1 bottling traditionally establishes the reference point for every Octomore series. It showcases Scottish barley and predominantly American oak maturation before the later decimal editions explore different casks and barley origins.

As the 2025 foundation release of Series Sixteen, it is especially relevant to collectors building complete Octomore sets or comparing the development of consecutive .1 editions. Its 101.4 PPM level, first-fill bourbon maturation and 59.3% strength give the bottle a clearly defined identity within the wider range.

No verified total production figure has been announced. Complete examples retaining the original tin, intact closure, clean bottle finish and strong fill level are the most attractive for collection and display.