Octomore EDITION: 17.3 Super Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Release 2026 60.9% ABV 0.7l in a tin box

The Octomore Edition 17.3 Super Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky embodies exceptional traceability and an uncompromising focus on its origins. The 100 per cent Islay Concerto barley used comes entirely from the 2019 harvest at Irene’s Field on Octomore Farm, which lies just around three kilometres from the Bruichladdich Distillery. The whisky was distilled in 2020, with the heavily peated malt boasting an impressive phenol content of 132.1 PPM. Despite this high level of peating, Octomore 17.3 does not aim solely for maximum smokiness, but instead focuses on the interplay between Islay barley, terroir, distillate and cask maturation. After five years of maturation, the single malt is bottled at a robust 60.9% ABV.


The maturation profile of Octomore 17.3 combines first-fill bourbon casks with European second-fill casks that previously contained Ribera del Duero red wine, Sauternes, Eiswein and Syrah. This unusually diverse selection of casks complements the powerful peaty smoke without overshadowing the characteristic barley flavour and the distillate’s original character. It is precisely the combination of a single farm, a clearly defined field and a single harvest year that makes this Octomore Release 2026 a particularly transparent Islay bottling. Matured for just five years, this whisky impressively demonstrates the philosophy typical of Octomore, which combines extreme peating, short maturation and high cask strength with precision and provenance. Bottled in a 0.7-litre bottle and presented in the characteristic tin box, Edition 17.3 is aimed particularly at connoisseurs of intensely peated Islay single malts.

Tasting Note

Colour: Sun-kissed gold.

Nose: Coastal peat smoke, sea spray, tar and medicinal notes, followed by warm malt, brown sugar, barley flour, lemon zest, green apple and pear, as well as vanilla, marzipan, beach grass and wildflowers.

Taste: Full-bodied, viscous and peppery, with salted caramel, smoked apple, toasted coconut, praline and vanilla cream, followed by deeply charred peat, dry ash smoke, citrus oils and mineral salinity.

Finish: Very long-lasting, dry and powerful, with malty sweetness, floral nuances and vanilla, gradually giving way to earthy smoke, maritime saltiness and spicy, warming peat.

The Octomore 17.3 at 60.9% is best enjoyed neat at around 18–20 °C, although a few drops of still water can open up the high cask strength and release further notes of barley, fruit and cask. It pairs well with strongly smoked salmon, grilled beef or mature hard cheese, which provide sufficient structure to counterbalance the intense peaty smoke. Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content also harmonises well with the roasted, sweet and smoky components. This bottling is particularly interesting for comparative Octomore tastings, where the influence of Islay barley, 132.1 PPM and different wine casks can be directly compared with other editions.

Distributor/Importer:

Distributor/Importer: Top Spirit Vertriebsgesellschaft m. b. H., Heiligenstädter Straße 43, 1190 VIENNA, Austria, services@topspirit.at

EAN:

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