14.3 is perhaps the crown jewel of the Octomore releases - always focusing on Islay provenance. It features 100% Octomore Farm, Islay grown Concerto barley from the Village and Lorgba fields that are a stone's throw from the distillery. Aged in Bourbon and ex red wine casks, like its brothers, it is also 5 years old. Unlike the .1 and .2 releases, it is however peated to an almost comical 214.2ppm. Even more than the other two release this year, 14.3 fits best "The Impossible Equation" tag line that adorns the bottles. Under no circumstances should an absurdly high proof (61.4% ABV), insanely heavily peated, and only 5 year young spirit work. But, such is the magic of Bruichladdich. It simply does. It's elegant and graceful, but never fearful. It is "the iron fist in the velvet glove" of the whisky world. Peaty, yes. Sweet, yes, Approachable....yes, amazingly so. The nose smacks of sweet barley and hints at that iodine note that Laphroiag is so famous for, but this perhaps leans a little more like chlorine - in a good way (from my ex-swimmer perspective, I find it oddly comforting). The fruit is a bit greener, more snappy apple than ripe orchard fruit, and the wood profile feels much sweeter than both .1 and .2. The milk chocolate of .1 is still here in a big way, but a few cacao percentage points darker. It also feels the most balanced of the 3, a remarkable feat given the intensity of the specs. If you're looking for the most all 'rounder profile, it's got to be 14.3.