Bunnahabhain 10yo

Bunnahabhain 10yo

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Islay
Golden
50.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, smoke, peat, germolene, sea salt, tarry rope, hints of lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, oily, turns syrupy. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Raisins, germolene, slate, tarry rope, malted grains, smoke, ginseng. 
Finish: Medium. Slate, wet stones, tarry rope, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Peated Bunna! This one is medicinal and minerally, lots of sea and lemon. The peat is rather gentle, and isn’t aggressive. Very drinkable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bunnahabhain 19yo 1980/1999

Bunnahabhain 19yo 1980/1997

First Cask, The Malt Whisky Circle
Single malt - Islay
Golden bronze
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cotton sheets, leather, cinder toffee, salt caramel, photocopy paper, black tea, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, astringent, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Photocopy paper, sultanas, dried apricots, kiwifruit, black tea, cinder toffee, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Candle wax, photocopy paper, cinder toffee, black tea, hints of coffee. 

Comments: 

Cask 5643. It’s unpeated, of course, and it’s been drowned in old bottle effect. It’s become feinty and a little floral, but lots of bitter notes still linger in the background. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Bunnahabhain 16yo 2004/2021

Bunnahabhain 16yo 2004/2021

Carn Mor
Single malt - Islay
Amber, hints of bronze
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, leather, peat, raisins, lemon zest, toffee, cocoa nibs, hints of cinnamon. With water, apple juice, leather, cocoa nibs, peat. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, leather, pears, cinnamon, smoke, cocoa nibs, coffee, oak chips, hints of vanilla. With water, cocoa nibs, peat, smoke, apple juice. 
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, leather, raisins, apple juice. 

Comments: 

Sweet and smoky, lots of bitter fragrant notes. The smoke is very gentle, almost a lick rather than clouds. But the wood predominates, and reduces the complexity.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bunnahabhain 18yo 2002/2020

Bunnahabhain 18yo 2002/2020

Chorlton Whisky
Single malt - Islay
Dark gold 
53.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, green apples, lemon zest, honey, nutmeg, kiwifruit, hints of greengages. With water, cream, honey, lemon zest, greengages. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Green apples, lemon zest, honey, fresh baked bread, gooseberries, malted grains. With water, lemon zest, greengages, honey, hints of cardboard. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, lemon zest, malted grains, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

An unusual Bunna, lots of tart yet salty notes. There’s a little bit of cardboard once water is added, which detracts slightly. Neat, the fruit and cereal notes are very enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bunnahabhain 26yo 1989/2015

Bunnahabhain 26yo 1989/2015 (ECW bottle)

Single Cask, Berry Bros & Rudd
Single malt - Islay
Green gold
43.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, sour cream, onions, fresh cut grass, honey, butterscotch, hints of orange blossom. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Sour cream, butterscotch, fresh cut grass, leather, sea salt, orange blossom. 
Finish: Medium. Leather, orange peel, butterscotch, salt caramel, hints of onions. 

Comments: 

This whisky smells like sour cream and onion Pringles! On the tongue, it still has that sour cream note but it changes to grassy buttery notes. It’s quite gently peated, and even those gentle notes fade quite quickly.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bunnahabhain 32yo 1990/2022

Bunnahabhain 32yo 1990/2022

The Kinship Edition, Hunter Laing
Single malt - Islay 
Pale gold 
46.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, salt caramel, orange peel, kelp, dashi, iodine, five spice powder, moss, hints of gas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, turns watery around the edges, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Salt caramel, orange peel, five spice powder, honey, vanilla, iodine, pomegranate molasses. 
Finish: Long. Five spice powder, kelp, vanilla, pomegranate molasses, moss. 

Comments: 

A gentle, only very slightly peaty Bunnahabhain. It’s more iodine than peat, actually. There’s a meaty leathery edge to it too, alongside the sweet notes. Highly enjoyable stuff. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bunnahabhain 30yo (bottled 2020)

Bunnahabhain 30yo (bottled 2020)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Amber
46.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, milk chocolate, cocoa nibs, orange peel, vanilla, coffee, hazelnuts. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, thickens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Milk chocolate, hazelnuts, black tea, black pepper, raisins, cocoa nibs. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, vanilla, honey, orange peel, cocoa nibs, hints of peaches. 

Comments: 

Lovely old Bunnahabhain, complex and bitter, lots of fragrant coffee notes. There’s a lot of peach on the nose as well, and it’s gloriously nutty on the tongue. Brilliant whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bunnahabhain Warehouse 9 Spanish Oak Finish 15yo 2002/2018

Bunnahabhain Warehouse 9 15yo 2002/2018

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay 
Amber
58.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, black tea, rhubarb, butterscotch, chocolate, hints of sour cream. With water, oatmeal, chocolate, fried eggs, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Chocolate, butterscotch, raisins, damson jam, sea salt, fried eggs, tyre rubber. With water, sea salt, black tea, chocolate, damson jam. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, oatmeal, tyre rubber, damson jam, sea salt. 

Comments: 

The Spanish oak is actually a sherry brandy cask. It’s lovely, very cereally despite possessing all the sweet notes you’d expect. There’s also a sulphurous edge to it that’s not unpleasant, and it tapers off into a savoury finish. Excellent stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bunnahabhain Warehouse 9 2007 Palo Cortado

Bunnahabhain Warehouse 9 2007 Palo Cortado

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay 
Red gold
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, sandalwood, toffee, cream, chocolate, hints of smoke. With water, honey, plums, cream, damson jam, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, oily, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cream, toffee, sea salt, vanilla, orange peel, heather honey, raisins, hints of chocolate. With water, oatmeal, damson jam, cream, sea salt, hints of chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Sea salt, heather honey, raisins, orange peel, raspberry jam. 

Comments: 

Cask 18. This is heavenly. It’s complex, slightly funky (is this the influence of the flor from the Palo Cortado?) and laden with sweet things, from dried fruit to vanilla cream. Perhaps the best Bunnahabhain I’ve ever tasted, in my humble opinion. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bunnahabhain Warehouse 9 11yo Manzanilla Cask

Bunnahabhain Warehouse 9 11yo Manzanilla Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Amber
54.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, malted grains, toffee, tobacco leaf, sea salt, hints of cedar, hints of cream. With water, sea salt, cream, black tea, raisins, dried apricots.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, expands.  
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Toffee, orange peel, tobacco leaf, malted grains, cream, walnuts, chestnuts, sea salt. With water, raisins, sea salt, orange peel, dried apricots, chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Chocolate, sea salt, salt caramel, tobacco leaf. 

Comments: 

This is more classic Bunnahabhain, I suppose. It’s unpeated, but marries intense sherry flavours (all those dried fruits and chocolate) with nutty, savoury notes. It’s got a salty edge to it as well, which is especially apparent on the finish. Amazing.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bunnahabhain Warehouse 9 Cask Sample #1

Bunnahabhain Warehouse 9 Cask Sample #1

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Amber, hints of red
53.3%% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, orange peel, dust, raisins, winter melons, cinnamon. With water, lemon zest, cucumbers, winter melons, hints of mint. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slightly sticky, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Orange peel, damson jam, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, mint, chocolate, hints of sea salt. With water, damson jam, lemon zest, chocolate, hints of liquorice, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, chocolate, red grapes, mint, sea salt. 

Comments: 

Oloroso. It’s dusty and old, jammy and fruity. There’s a savoury edge to this, on the tip of the tongue and around the lips, and wreathed through with spices and chocolate. Utterly lovely stuff. It’s not been bottled, and will continue to age in the cask.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bunnahabhain Warehouse 9 2007 Bourbon Barrel

Bunnahabhain Warehouse 9 2007 Bourbon Barrel

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Dark gold
55.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mint, toffee, camphor, liquorice, raisins, vanilla, custard apples. With water, kiwifruit, white grapes, lemon sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, astringent, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla, toffee, candy floss, custard apples, raisins, walnut skins, white grapes, hints of mangosteens. With water, lemon sweets, walnut skins, liquorice, white grapes, mangosteens. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, toffee, raisins, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Bottled 2020. Warehouse 9 is a legendary Bunnahabhain warehouse where a lot of unusual gems are slowly ticking over, getting to the point of being ready to drink. This one is unseated, aged in a bourbon cask, quite unusual. It’s full of tropical fruits, very gentle and flavourful, highly enjoyable. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bunnahabhain Moine PX 22yo 1997/2020

Bunnahabhain Moine PX 22yo 1997/2020

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Dark amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, red wine, frying bacon, roast beef, pears in syrup, leather, hints of peaches.  
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, loosens, slightly airy. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. White grapes, red wine, smoke, peaches, roast beef, golden syrup, hints of tobacco leaf. 
Finish: Long. White grapes, vanilla, leather, smoke, pears in syrup. 

Comments: 

Not as sweet as one would expect. Perhaps it hasn’t spent that long in a PX cask. However there’s plenty of smoke, and very gentle peat. This whisky wears its age lightly. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Bunnahabhain Toiteach a Dha

Bunnahabhain Toiteach a Dha

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Yellow
46.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, preserved lemons, tobacco leaf, marmalade, smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium, loosens, slippery, slightly airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Preserved lemons, butter, smoke, marmalade, mint, vanilla, hints of peaches. 
Finish: Short. Butter, peaches, mint, preserved lemons, lemon juice, smoke. 

Comments: 

The Bunnahabhains that I've tried have been variable in terms of the smoke and peat levels, but there's normally plenty of fruit and sweet things. And also, surprisingly, some buttery notes, occasionally salty butter. This is no exception, it's tart, a little salty, with those interesting butter notes making an appearance on the tongue.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Bunnahabhain 28yo 1990/2019

Bunnahabhain 28yo 1990/2019

Single Malts of Scotland, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Islay
Pale gold
44.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: White chocolate, vanilla, peat, condensed milk, smoked bacon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla, white chocolate, leather, honey, condensed milk, peat, ginseng, fresh cut grass, hints of rubber. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, black tea, fresh cut grass, vanilla, hints of lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Cask 7727. Thanks Eddie for the dram. This aged Bunnahabhain is special. It's chocolatey and buttery, like the best Ardbegs, but the peat is gentle, and there's very little smoke. There's something slightly chemical on the tongue, but it isn't harsh. It's really complex - many many layers, lots of flavour notes - and it all fades to a slightly bitter, herbal finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Bunnahabhain 10yo 2009/2019

Bunnahabhain 10yo 2009/2019

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Islay
Mahogany
59.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, honey, brown butter, plums, magic marker, fresh baked bread, hints of pears. With water, buttered toast, raisins, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, warm, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, ginseng, caramel, raisins, pears, winter melon, toast. With water, fresh baked bread, butter, honey, plums. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, winter melon, ginseng, raisins, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Gloriously sherried, unpeated Bunnahabhain! This one is fruity, with some saline notes, but has herbal melony flavours that I identify as winter melon. It's highly complex for a 10 year old, and has surprising strength.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Bunnahabhain 15yo Sherry Octave

Bunnahabhain 15yo Sherry Octave

Cask Collection, AD Rattray
Single malt - Islay
Amber rose
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, vanilla, magic marker, red grapes, damson jam, guava jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, warming, tingly, alcohol burn. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Red grapes, fresh baked bread, guava jam, vanilla, raisins, pear drops. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, red grapes, vanilla, marmalade. 

Comments: 

Cask 3058. Ah, the power of sherry, allied to unpeated Islay spirit. This one has heaps of jammy tropical fruits, alongside sharp acetone pear drops. There's plenty of alcohol prickle on the nose and even more on the tongue, but it's easy to drink. Big, powerful, complex and robust.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Ma1

Ma1

Elements of Islay, Specialty Drinks
Single malt - Islay
Golden
54.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, apricots, cookie dough, vanilla, tangerines, hints of peat. With water, applesauce, pink peppercorns. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, airy, slightly fizzy. 
Tasting:  Sour. Burning leaves, apricots, tangerines, lemon zest, hints of vanilla. With water, pink peppercorns, applesauce, tangerine marmalade. 
Finish: Long. Burning leaves, tangerine marmalade, peat, lemon zest, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Margadale, which Ma stands for, is apparently what we call peated Bunnahabhain. This wasn't too peaty though, gentle hints of burning leaves maybe. That note overlays jammy fruit, with touches of vanilla, and with water, turns slightly peppery and spicy.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bunnahabhain 24 yo 1990/2015

Bunnahabhain 24 yo 1990/2015

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Islay
Buttercups
40.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, brass polish, ginger, leather, peat, hints of orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens slightly, turns watery, slightly fizzy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Ginger, lemon zest, honey, malted grains, vanilla, leather. 
Finish: Medium. Ginger, ginseng, malted grains, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Cask #10822. Warming and pleasant, it's a perfect drinking whisky for a cold rainy night. Not too smoky, but quite a lot of peat, manifesting in some mild bitter notes on the tongue and the finish. Very citrusy though, surprisingly sweet sour for an Islay.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bunnahabhain 18 yo

Bunnahabhain 18 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Amber red
46.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, prunes, caramel, red grapes, hints of burnt plastic, hint of woodsmoke. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens slightly, watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, red grapes, prunes, blueberries, cloves, toast, hints of woodsmoke. 
Finish: Long. Woodsmoke, malted grains, cloves, blueberries, prunes. 

Comments: 

Sherried Islay is always a treat. This one is no exception. Great heaving notes of spice (cloves, mainly) with sulphury burnt plastic edging sweeter sherried notes on the nose. Lots of woodsmoke on the tongue and in the finish - not just any generic smoke, but clearly identifiable as burning driftwood. Very good!

Verdict:

I like this a lot.