Bruichladdich revisits inaugural whisky for anniversary
Islay’s Bruichladdich Distillery has bottled two whiskies exclusively for this year’s Féis Ìle Festival: Port Charlotte PC5 Redux and Octomore OBA Redux.
Set to be unveiled during Rock’ndaal – Bruichladdich’s annual festival day taking place this Sunday (24 May) – the two limited editions are said to exemplify the distillery’s commitment to pushing boundaries while honouring the rich heritage of Islay single malt whisky.
To mark the distillery’s 25th anniversary and Fèis Ìle 2026, Bruichladdich has chosen to reprise the first whisky it released after it was brought out of mothballs in 2001.
On 29 May of that year, Port Charlotte, a heavily-peated single malt Scotch, was the first liquid to run off the stills, and five years later, PC5 became the distillery’s first whisky.
The release defined Port Charlotte’s signature sweet barbecue smoke profile and quickly became one of its most revered releases.
Now, Port Charlotte PC5 Redux’s reimagined liquid profile pays homage to the original. Aged for five years and bottled at 63.5% ABV, the release is limited to 2,500 bottles and priced at £75 (US$100).
Master blender Adam Hannett said: “This revisiting of the original PC5 recipe captures the raw energy of heavily-peated Islay whisky in its formative years. Distilled, matured and bottled on Islay, the spirit leads with confidence – vibrant, smoky and alive with bright citrus.
“American oak supports the spirit rather than dominating it, allowing the purity of the barley and the influence of Islay’s unique locale to shine through. It’s amazing to think that this was the first spirit to run off the stills during our debut festival day in 2001. Powerful yet elegant, this whisky celebrates the bold character that defined an era.”
Octomore OBA Redux
The second release is Octomore OBA Redux, an experimental whisky that resurrects the OBA concept – which marries the ‘clandestine nature’ of Bruichladdich’s Black Art series with the extreme peat smoke of Octomore – 10 years after its initial debut.
First introduced as a dram in 2016 by Hannett during his inaugural Feìs Ìle masterclass, OBA Concept_01 was released to fans a year later in 2017, selling out almost immediately.
Hannett said: “Transparency is the hallmark of Bruichladdich Distillery, but one single malt whisky that goes against the grain is Black Art, a spirit shrouded in secrecy. In omitting the details behind Black Art’s craft – barley varietal, date of distillation, specific maturation profile – something else is revealed: the pure, sensorial act of delighting entirely in the spirit’s flavour. So, we asked ourselves, ‘What if the mysteries of Black Art and the nuanced power of Octomore were married together?’”
The result is a limited release single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 54.2%, with a palate of persistent peat smoke, tropical fruits and roasted marzipan.
“This is a beautifully fragrant and fruit-forward Octomore,” continued Hannett. “Floral elegance and tropical sweetness meet smoke and tempered oak. It is a spirit of immense power, yet possesses a silken, architectural refinement. Unlike other Octomore expressions, you won’t find us talking about the age or phenol parts per million (PPM) of this release. Sometimes, things are better left a mystery.”
With just 2,500 bottles available, Octomore OBA is priced at £325 (US$435).
Octomore OBA Redux and Port Charlotte PC5 Redux will be available to purchase online via bruichladdich.com and in person at Bruichladdich Distillery from 24 May 2026.
Rock’ndaal tickets have sold out for 2026, but the distillery will be live-streaming the event.
For Rock’ndaal news, updates and live stream, visit www.uk.bruichladdich.com/pages/rockndaal.
Related news
Blade and Bow debuts 12YO Solera Reserve
