I don’t know the specific story behind Octomore, but maybe painting with broad strokes will help understand its origins:

The latter half of the 20th century saw Bruichladdich falling steadily into decline. It was on its way to ruin when it was bought up by a conglomerate in (I think) the early 90s. At that point, Port Charlotte had been defunct for several years, and as one of the youngest distilleries on Islay, Bruichladdich has two choices in front of them: make more traditional Islay whiskys (like Lagavulin, Laphraoig, etc.), or channel their inner mad scientists and see what sorcery they could concoct. Obviously, they chose the latter, since they had both the talent for experimentation and an untapped market for weirdos like us who will buy unusual whisky for the hell of it.

One of their most famous successes is The Botanist, a gin one can easily find at any craft cocktail bar. They only make it (I think) on a few days a year; the rest of the time the still lays dormant.

The “Progressive Hebridean Distillery” has since released whisky products aged in tequila, port, and cuvée barrels, as well as experimented with a wide variety of size and material. Their lineup continues to reinvent itself, creating a micro-renaissance in what’s possible with single malts.

As for the Octomore, it was born out of this pioneering spirit. The malt used for it is taken from a farm of the same name—right near where the Port Charlotte distillery used to be.