Distilled in 2013 from the 2012 harvest, the Octomore 10.3 has been brought home by farmer James Brown. Taking on the challenge of growing Islay Barley, he braces the conditions of the wet and wild west coast to combine an exploration of Islay terroir and stratospheric smoke. For the first time, the .3 is matured for six aged years but crucially only in ex-American oak. These top-quality quercus robur casks have gently coaxed this Octomore spirit into life in Warehouse 16, next to the 10.1 edition. Having housed our Scottish and Islay barley in the same conditions, with a lower PPM, solely in American oak from Concerto barley, the flavour difference between them is attributed to the growing conditions of the barley’s respective locale. ### Product Description Bruichladdich is based on the utterly wonderful Hebridean isle of Islay and is incredibly proud of it too, promoting much of this Island and what it has to offer on their website. All their whiskies use only Scottish Barley (it’s called Scotch for a reason as they say) and are born and created to reflect the character and history of Islay. Their presentation is cracking too. Tasting Notes Notes of salt, honey and lemon, developing pear, gooseberry and oak atop a backdrop of heavy peat smoke