Bunnahabhain

Whisky #471: Berrys’ 2005 Single Malt From Bunnahabhain Distillery

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Berrys’ 2005 Single Malt From Bunnahabhain Distillery (Drawn from Cask Ref. 9000058). Islay, Scotland. ABV: 56.9%. Tasted at Mjølner, $23.

Mjølner is a new Viking whisky bar here in Sydney.

Viking. Whisky. Bar. Absolute genius.

An awesome array of whiskies behind the bar and a great basement fitout, can’t wait to come back and pillage and plunder some more liquid gold.

Colour: Bright lustrous gold.

Nose: Soft smoke, honey on slightly burnt toast, creamy pink marshmallows.

Palate: Oaky, smoky and…oki dokey. A light burst of salted caramel down the middle of your tongue, then a gentle warmth that slowly builds in your mouth.

Finish: A long gentle smoky fade; dusty blueberry without the sweetness.

Comments: Bunnahabhain’s official distillery releases are typically unpeated, so a peated independent bottling from Berrys’ was worth a try.

It’s a nice whisky, but quite straightforward and gentle in all aspects – nose, palate and finish. Nothing too outlandish or bold; a little beige. I found myself searching for ways to describe it, looking for depth when it wasn’t there. The smokiness is the dominant flavour, but it’s not overpowering like some (typically younger) Islay whiskies.

Whisky #443: Cadenhead Small Batch Bunnahabhain 1976 39 Year Old Sherry Cask Single Malt

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img_8282.jpgCadenhead Small Batch Bunnahabhain 1976 39 Year Old Sherry Cask Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 49.4%. Tasted at my good mate Brett’s place for his 40th birthday.

Colour: Deep, dark toffee.

Nose: Fresh vanilla sponge cake. Some dusty bookshelf aromas. Sounds weird, but it’s an aroma that I really enjoy about many quite old Scotch whiskies.

Palate: Smooth and creepy. No, that’s Brett…I mean smooth and creamy. Toffee apples, both ones with fresh green apples and also the toffee apple chewy sweets you used to get as a kid. Later flavours of honey and butter on freshly baked white toast emerge.

Finish: It’s a long and gentle fade. A dry tartness; oranges and raspberries with a delicate sweetness. Almost a slightly salty lemon sherbet tang as it tapers off.

Comments: To celebrate Brett officially beginning the downward slide into middle age as he turns 40, a few of us banded together to get him this fantastic whisky that was distilled in his birth year of 1976 and bottled after 39 years in 2016. One of only 648 bottles, it was matured in 3 sherry butts and bottled at its natural cask strength of 49.4%ABV.

Bunnahabhain may come from Islay yet their spirit is largely unpeated, certainly in comparison to its Islay neighbours such as Bruichladdich, Laphroig, Ardbeg etc.

Rich and delicate, this was one super smooth drop; not peaty at all. Complex and multifaceted according to Brett. It’s outstanding, the kind of whisky you want to sit back and slowly sip with a good mate, you don’t want to rush this one. The only rushing should be back to grab the bottle to pour yourself another dram…which I hope Brett remembers next time I come to visit!

Whisky #212 – Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old Single Malt

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IMG_3603Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old Single Malt (Old Bottling). Islay, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at The Angel’s Cut, $40.

Colour: Rich wood varnish.

Nose: Soft toffee notes.

Palate: Possibly the most subtle peaty flavours I’ve had in a while. Sweet orange peel flavours too.

Finish: Sweet earthy notes to finish, a very gentle fade. Dry mouthfeel, medium length.

Comments: Definitely one of the more unusual Islays I’ve tried. It really is a great drop, though I’m not sure it’s really worth $40 a nip for the pure drinking pleasure alone; you’re also paying for the relative rarity of the whisky.

Whisky #104 – Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old Single Malt

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IMG_2816Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 46.30%. $24 – Tasted at Malt Supper Club.

Colour: Deep burnt amber.

Nose: A touch of port.

Palate: Woody, but not your traditional oak kind of flavours. Short flavours, fades to tart dried grapes/sultanas.

Finish: Smooth gentle warmth, doesn’t quite fill the mouth.

Comments: A bit too dry & not enough sweetness for my liking. Ok though.

Whisky #12: Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Single Malt

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IMG_2520Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 46.30%. Tasted at Malt Supper Club, $14.

Colour: Golden sherry

Nose: Smells like a sherry matured dram, a little smokey.

Palate: Straw notes, surprisingly non-peaty for an Islay.  That’s all I’ve got for this one I’m afraid.

Finish: Absolutely no fucking idea.

Comments: C’mon give me a break – it was 2:30am, rather a lot had been consumed and I wasn’t really paying attention by that time of the evening (morning).  I blame my mate Brett for rather helpfully suggesting I tackle Sunday’s Whisky a Day dram on Saturday night/Sunday morning at stupid o’clock.  Thankfully I have a small bottle of the Bunnahabhain 12 yr at home so I can at least re-taste it at some point!