Time to do some research on the least peated of the Islay Distilleries. This tasting went over two days, so that the peat in the "heavily peated" version wouldn't intefere with the other ones.
Bunnahabhain 11yo 1997-2009 54% Signatory Vintage cask#5361,5317 btl.467/589
Pale golden color on this "heavily peated" Bunnahabhain, seems the distillery follows the demand of peat, many older Bunnahs have been placed in sherry casks back in the days. Going with the flow of the market. Pale golden color, smells sweet and peaty, like a Laphroaig withoutr the medicinal notes. A bit light and easy for a peated Islay malt. Vanilla, nutty, strawberry jam, very nice, but little distinguishes it from a peated highlander such as "Old Ballantruan". No coal/salty notes in this one. The taste is all on tea, wheat, moussaka, mashed potatoes, honey corn. A sweet light-weighter. I'd never guess this was at 54%abv.
Nice stuff, if you find Laphroaig a bit "too peaty", try this one: 6.5
Bunnahabhain 34yo 1967-2001 40.5% Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask
This one should be a cracker. A CS almost on the verge of being non-whisky material (under 40%abv.). The color is brown/grey, makes me assume its from a fino shery cask. It smells bitter, mint, sugar and licorice, very sweet and light, some sulphur and cinnamon as well. The taste is sweet, hazel nuts, earthy, salt water, very clean, could've been any young Bruichladdich, really... I can't criticize it in any way, but for this price and age, I'd expect a bit more richness...
Luxury cost, quality everyday dram output: 6
Bunnahabhain 33yo 1976-2010 52% Malts of Scotland cask#6388
One from a sherry butt, about the same age as the OMC, but distilled almost a decade later, lets see if there's any difference in style. Although, this being from a sherry but might show in the strength. The colour is golden brown. It smells honeyed, orange zest, cream liqueur, mushrooms, onions, linseeds, more peaty than the "heavily peated". The taste is rich, creamy, rum, spicy bourbon notes, cinnamon, honey, raspberry, toffee, caramel, citrus, lemon, candied mints.
A great dram with diversity and strength, sherry fueled: 7
Bunnhabhain 14yo 52.6% James MacArthur's
A CS at 52%abv after only 14 years in the cask is a bit of a loose cask, considering the other whiskies in this session. But James's always been a good friend. The color is amber. It smells peaty n peppery, a lot like Laphroiag and even Lagavulin. Resinous, peppery, salty, beef meat, cream, dandillions, flowery, some honey notes, wheat, perhaps the best nose I've had from Islay. The taste is sweet, honeyed, oranges, cream, butter, peaches, irish coffee, grits, a bit weak, yet fun.
I'd like to say this was a fun encounter, but the finish hits the breaks: 6.5
Bunnahabhain 11yo 1997-2009 55.3% Malts of Scotland cask#3172
This one comes from a sherry hogshead, a wood policy which seems to be coming more of a tune of the day these days, as you might know, people are filling small casks with already fully developed wines to then adding barley wine. The color is orange/brown. It smells dry sherry all the way. Red onions and potato starch. The taste is peppery, bitter, drying, tonic, strange mix of bitter herbs. Vanilla and rice wine. Dried rye. Unlimited whisky, a lot of dryness and a lot of malt.
A crazy whisky mix: 7
Bunnahabhain 9yo 2000-2010 59% Whisky-Doris
Crazy stuff, a Bunnahabhain that tells the truth. Young and crazy. The color is orange. there is some milanese wine, fresh fruit, some rise, wine, maize, a fine whisky. But all in all much too raw.
A spirity whisky: 5.5
Next tasting: Balblair Distillery
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