Bn4 Elements of Islay

Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old

Recently the wonderful people at Bunnahabain have changed their bottling of the standard 12yo. The bottle has changed from a green to a dark brown, the ABV % was bummed up from 40% to 46.3%, and they have changed to a non-chill filtration format. Now I will start this by saying that I don't think that I have ever had the original dram, save one...

Score 84/100

Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old

Nose, Taste, Finish and Balance are graded out of 2.5 each: Nose: A beautifully soft, almost bourbon quality to the nose. It seems like an illicit lovechild between Kentucky and Islay, with the best of both genes coming through. On one side we have the deep liquorice, melted brown sugar and sweet leather, and on the other we have delicate...

Score 85/100

Bunnahabhain 1988 24 Year Old Cask #4111 Berry Bros

Bunnahabhain is probably my favourite 'non-smoky' distillery. This whisky is matured entirely in sherry casks for 24 years and it definitely shows in its colour. The nose is of burnt sugar with ripe red fruits and cooked berries. Raisins, Sultanas, even fig are apparent. Hint of blackcurrant and do I even detect liquorice? Very very slightly...

Score 93/100

Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old

Three years ago I went on a whirlwind tour of Islay. Starting at Bowmore, they had a glamorous "clean" looking modern visitor's centre and reception greeting you straight from the street. We finished at Bunnahabhain - their visitor's centre took a bit of finding. I recall having to wander around the distillery yards trying to work out...

Score 88/100