In 2002, Bruichladdich's master distiller Jim McEwan decided he wanted to create the peatiest whisky in the world, adding Octomore to its range range of unpeated (Bruichladdich) and very peated (Port Charlotte) whiskies. In addition to its extraordinary phenol content, Octomore is also characterized by an innovative approach to the blending and ageing of these spirits.

An Octomore distilled in October 2002—making it one of the first distillations of Octomore—and bottled in April 2008, at the same time as the 1.1. Produced with barley peated to 80.5 ppm, it was matured in bourbon casks from the Buffalo Trace distillery.