Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 52.2%ABV
Ageing casks: Finished in ex-Tokaji
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Burn Stewart Distillery plc.
Average price: € 250.00
Official website: bunnahabhain.com
Vote: 87/100
The Bunnahabhain distillery, founded in 1881, is located on the island of Islay, overlooking one of Scotland’s most beautiful scenic settings, the Paps of Jura and the Inner Hebrides.
Usually producing unpeated whisky, but a few weeks a year the distillery produces small batches of heavily peated whisky.
Made exclusively for the Fèis Ìle of 2022, this exceptional single malt was produced using casks where Tokaji wine had been stored for just over a year for finishing.
Distilled on 2 February 2004 and bottled on 24 January 2022 (thus a seventeen year old), it produced only 1,693 bottles.
Tasting notes
Golden colour.
The nose is sweet with notes of pastry and fruit such as apricot and black cherry, then hints of white grapes, lemon, mint and surprisingly chestnut begin to emerge. Spices are not slow to arrive such as black pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon.
On the palate, sweetness disappears and leaves room for spices such as paprika, turmeric, nutmeg and vanilla. There is no lack of fruit such as pear, which is acidic. A hint of caramel makes itself felt although mentholated, herbs, salt and a woody note.
The finish is long with marine, salty, smoky and herbaceous notes always with a woody note.
In conclusion, I can say that I enjoyed it very much, a coastal whisky and perfectly suited to the area in which it’s produced, of course it could be enjoyed to the full sitting on a quay leaving the distillery behind and admiring the Paps of Jura, perhaps enjoying a few slices of smoked salmon.