Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 58.7%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Port
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Burn Stewart Distillery plc.
Average price: € 190.00
Official website: bunnahabhain.com
Vote: 87/100
I’m back for a tour of the Islay festival that took place between last May and June (and I’ll be back often in the coming days), with one of the four expressions dedicated to the event by Bunnahabhain.
A 27 year old with nine years of finishing in ex-moscatel casks, a 23 year old that you will soon see on these pages, a 19 year old Mòine (the peated version) finished in madeira (only available at the distillery) and this 14 year old, with eleven years (since May 2009) spent in ex-bourbon casks with the last three aged (since November 2020) in hogsheads ex-ruby port.
Tasting Notes
It takes some time to settle in the glass and lose the first alcoholic stings, after which the red fruits arrive on the nose in an acidic form (currant, raspberry, cranberry) with cherries in spirit, sultanas and prunes, scattered over a marzipan Ritter Sport. Minor orange (declined in Grand Marnier), chestnut honey, cereal yoghurt, nutmeg and tannins scattered here and there. Port and bourbon play catch-up in a well-structured, full-bodied nose.
On the palate, orange returns in the form of marmalade and candied peel, with nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper delicately punctuating red fruits (again in a acidic version), black cherry, ripe apple, milk chocolate, coffee, marzipan and a touch of toffee in the background. Edgy initially, it becomes softer and warmer with time, finding the balance of influences.
Quite long finish of spices, red fruits, chocolate, coffee, a slight balsamic and saline vein.
Some initial difficulty in integrating the casks, but with a little patience things go smoothly and it manages to bring out the best in each influence in a pleasant and balanced way. Not over exciting, but a satisfying dram, definitely overpriced but that is almost a habit now.