Sometimes in life, we have to look back to move forward. And what better time to look back than when you hit a significant milestone.
Perhaps the whisky makers at Bruichladdich have been having similar thoughts when it comes to preparing their forthcoming Feis Ile releases for 2026. The cult Islay distillery has cooked up two limited edition whiskies that draw inspiration from the distillery’s past releases.
Bruichladdich was reopened in 2001 and has grown into one of the best-loved whisky brands in the world. 2026 marks the 25th anniversary since their revival and the distillery is looking to mark the occasion with two special expressions launching in time for this year’s Feis Ile.
Coincidentally, Feis Ile is also celebrating a significant birthday this year. The 2026 edition of Islay’s festival of whisky, music, and Islay culture marks the 40th year of the world renowned event.
This year’s special releases from Bruichladdich reimagine classic whiskies from their Port Charlotte and Octomore ranges, and will serve as evidence of the distillery’s commitment to honouring the traditions of Islay’s whisky making heritage while constantly seeking to push the boundaries with forward thinking experimentation.
The first whisky in question is the Port Charlotte PC5 Redux. The original PC5 was crafted from the very first heavily peated spirit that ran off the stills after the distillery’s reopening, later becoming the reborn brand’s first release in 2006, and showcased what would become Port Charlotte’s trademark sweet barbecue smoke character.
Aiming to achieve a similar profile to the original, the Redux has also been aged for five years and bottled at cask strength of 63.5% ABV.
Master blender Adam Hannett tells us more: “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.”
Joining the Port Charlotte is Octomore OBA Redux. OBA was the super-heavily peated Octomore’s take on Bruichladdich’s Black Art whiskies - special releases where the cask make up was a closely guarded secret, representing a shift away from the distillery’s usual commitment to complete transparency.
In 2016, OBA was introduced as a dram exclusive to those who attended Bruichladdich’s Feis Ile masterclass. A year later Octomore OBA Concept_01 was launched to much fanfare and is still revered as one of the distillery’s greatest Octomore releases.
Hannett explains the thought behind the original OBA, and what we can expect from the Redux:
“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 OBA Redux] is a beautifully fragrant and fruit-forward Octomore. 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.”
Only 2,500 bottles of each release will be made available. The PC5 Redux is priced at £75 while the OBA Redux has an RRP of £325.
Both releases will be unveiled during Rockndaal - Bruichladdich’s festival day taking place on Sunday 24th May. Bottles will be available at the distillery on the day, and pre-orders are now being taken on Bruichladdich’s website.
Given the popularity of both the distillery and its whiskies, we recommend moving quick if you want to get your hands on a bottle!
