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 braced the conditions of the wet and wild west coast to combine an exploration of Islay terroir and stratospheric smoke.

For the first time, they matured the .3 for six aged years but crucially only in ex-American oak. These top-quality casks gently coaxed the Octomore spirit into life. The components of their 10.1 and 10.3 are so similar, the distinct flavour difference is said to be owed to the barley’s respective growing location.