New Release: Octomore 17.1, 17.2 and 17.3 Form the 17th Edition of the Five Year Old Peat Series

Octomore, the heavily peated single malt brand from Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay, has unveiled Edition 17 as a complete trio. The three expressions, Octomore 5 Years Old Edition 17.1, Octomore 5 Years Old Edition 17.2 and Octomore 5 Years Old Edition 17.3, all spent five years in cask, the age statement that has anchored the series since its first release in 2008.

Three Five Year Old Malts, One Edition

Each edition in the Octomore range is defined by three variables: barley, peating level and cask. Edition 17 splits the trio by barley provenance. The 17.1 and 17.2 bottlings use Scottish barley, while 17.3 is distilled from Islay barley grown and malted on the island.

The phenol counts distinguish the releases further. Edition 17.1 and Edition 17.2 are both peated to 81 parts per million, while Edition 17.3 reaches 132.1 parts per million, the highest of the three. Bottled at cask strength, the ABVs run from 59.5% for 17.2 through 59.7% for 17.1 to 60.9% for 17.3.

Octomore has held the reputation of the most heavily peated whisky series since Bruichladdich began releasing it, and Edition 17 continues that positioning with both Scottish and Islay barley represented across the three bottles.

17.1 and 17.2: The Scottish Barley Pair

The Octomore 5 Years Old Edition 17.1 is the entry point of the series, distilled from Scottish barley and matured exclusively in ex bourbon casks. It is bottled at 59.7% ABV with a phenol level of 81 parts per million, and the ex bourbon cask influence is expected to deliver the vanilla and citrus notes typical of that maturation.

The Octomore 5 Years Old Edition 17.2 also uses Scottish barley, peated to 81 parts per million, tying it with 17.1 for the lowest peat level of the three. It is bottled at 59.5% ABV. While 17.1 matures entirely in ex bourbon casks, 17.2 is matured in a mix of Bourbon and Port casks, adding fruit and sweetness beyond the pure peat character.

Both bottlings are released as limited editions, part of the annual Octomore cycle that has run for seventeen editions. The 17.2 is the softer, more approachable sibling to the extreme 17.1, though still firmly within the heavily peated category.

17.3: Islay Barley at the Peak of the Range

The Octomore 5 Years Old Edition 17.3 is the outlier of Edition 17. Distilled from Islay barley, the malt that Bruichladdich grows on the island itself, it is peated to 132.1 parts per million and bottled at 60.9% ABV, the highest proof of the trio.

The Islay barley provenance ties 17.3 to the farm to bottle programme that has been central to Octomore's identity. The five year maturation in a blend of Bourbon, Sauternes, Ribera del Duero, Ice Wine and Syrah casks produces what the brand describes as an intense single malt, with the peat smoke balanced by the character of the island grown grain.

As the highest phenol expression in the release, 17.3 is the bottle that collectors of extreme whiskies will track first. The combination of Islay barley and 132.1 parts per million makes it the most uncompromising of the three editions, a status Octomore has reserved for its .3 releases since the early years of the series.

Availability

All three editions are available now, distributed through specialist retailers and the official Bruichladdich shop.

The Octomore 5 Years Old Edition 17.1 is available on Spiritory.

The Octomore 5 Years Old Edition 17.2 is available on Spiritory.

The Octomore 5 Years Old Edition 17.3 is available on Spiritory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Octomore Edition 17?

Edition 17 is the seventeenth release in the Octomore series of heavily peated single malts from Bruichladdich. It consists of three five year old bottlings: 17.1, 17.2 and 17.3.

What is the difference between Octomore 17.1, 17.2 and 17.3?

The 17.1 and 17.2 use Scottish barley while the 17.3 uses Islay barley. The peat levels run from 81 parts per million for both 17.1 and 17.2 to 132.1 for 17.3, and the ABVs range from 59.5% to 60.9%.

Is Octomore Edition 17 available now?

Yes, all three editions, 17.1, 17.2 and 17.3, are available now.

Where can I buy Octomore 17.1, 17.2 and 17.3?

The Octomore 5 Years Old Edition 17.1, Edition 17.2 and Edition 17.3 are available on Spiritory.