Bruichladdich Unveils Fèis Ìle 2025 Exclusive Releases
Bruichladdich Distillery has unveiled Octomore Polyphonic and Port Charlotte Single Cask Rock’ndaal 2025 Edition, limited releases that will be available exclusively for Fèis Ìle 2025, also known as The Islay Festival.
Octomore Polyphonic:
At 15 years old, Polyphonic is the oldest Octomore expression released to date. Polyphonic is comprised of Octomore expressions of the past – further aged in cask beyond their original release – and spirit from single casks which have never been released. Bottled at 54.9% ABV and presented non-chill filtered and coloring free, Octomore Polyphonic is limited to 2,500 bottles and is priced at £300.00 for a 700 mL bottle.
The recipe for Octomore Polyphonic follows:
- 2005 first fill Grenache single cask: unreleased and peated to 167.6 PPM.
- 2007 first fill Bourbon barrel: the ‘Octomore of Octomore’. The first Octomore spirit ever distilled using malting barley specifically grown at the eponymous Octomore Farm, and featured in Rock’ndaal 01.1 Fèis Ìle 2022. Peated to 173.8 PPM.
- 2009 second fill Sauternes single cask: unreleased and peated to 208 PPM.
- Octomore 6.3: the original 6.3 spirit, aged in Bourbon and Syrah casks, has been further aged in second fill Bourbon barrels. Peated to 258 PPM.
- Octomore Masterclass 8.2: various wine casks and recasked into first fill Amarone for one year before bottling. The original 8.2 spirit has been further aged in refill Bourbon barrels. Peated to 167.4 PPM.
- Octomore Masterclass 8.4: virgin oak casks, peated to 170 PPM.
- Octomore Event Horizon, Fèis Ìle 2019: an exclusive bottling for Fèis Ìle 2019, matured in Oloroso and PX Sherry casks. Peated to 162.6 PPM.
Official tasting notes for Octomore Polyphonic follow:
Nose: The influence of the oak is immediate, with the quality French and American oak casks evoking sweet cinder toffee, vanilla fudge, dark chocolate and a pinch of sea salt. Burnt orange mingles with waves of barbeque smoke, with subtle hints of liquorice and ripe cherry. True to the distillery’s signature floral style, delicate honeysuckle adds a touch of elegance.
Palate: Beautifully rounded and smooth, notes of freshly baked pastry, golden syrup and freshly ground coffee come to the fore. A subtle minerality is a gentle reminder of the spirit’s all-Islay maturation, with notes of sea salt, warm sand and beach bonfire smoke evoking a true sense of place. Mellow toasted oak adds layers of depth and complexity.
Finish: Soft seasoned oak settles as elegant peat smoke and waves of sea spray linger.
Port Charlotte Single Cask Rock’ndaal 2025 Edition:
Port Charlotte Single Cask Rock’ndaal 2025 Edition was distilled in 2005 from heavily peated (40PPM) Optic barley and fully matured in a 2nd fill Moscatel sherry cask for 19 years. Bottled at 53% ABV and presented non-chill filtered and coloring free, Port Charlotte Single Cask Rock’ndaal 2025 Edition is limited to 667 bottles and is priced at £275.00 for a 700 mL bottle.
Official tasting notes for Port Charlotte Single Cask Rock’ndaal 2025 Edition follow:
Nose: Smoked cinder toffee, toasted bread and stoned fruit jam are immediate, with a hint of sea spray and warm sand instantly nodding to the whisky’s island origins. Notes of tropical fruit come to the fore, with sweet melon and ripened peaches mingling with Port Charlotte’s signature peat smoke. The subtle presence of the oak allows aromas of orange blossom and jasmine to build, adding a lively, floral character.
Palate: Candied fruits, brown sugar and rich toasted oak take centre stage, with waves of peat smoke gently lapping in the background. The sweetness of the Moscatel grape and the signature elegant and fruity character of the spirit have combined for almost two decades, creating a complex and layered flavour profile which is truly unforgettable.
Finish: Gentle dry peat smoke, together with the rich sweetness of fruit and toasted mellow oak, makes this whisky peak. The myriad of flavours come together in perfect harmony, leaving a clean and perfectly rounded dram.
Octomore Polyphonic and Port Charlotte Single Cask Rock’ndaal 2025 Edition are available now through the Bruichladdich website and will also be available to purchase at the distillery during Fèis Ìle.
Source: Bruichladdich Distillery.