Bunnahabhain 2006 Review

“The Peated Vodka”

Country: Scotland

Region: Islay

Brand: Bunnahabhain 2006 Moine/Peated  (Archives - Anniversary Release)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age:  5 Years

ABV: 51.1% 

Date: 22/06/2014

Colour: Very Pale White Wine/Vodka. The Palest Whisky I have seen so far.

Nose: Very Young and Harsh New Make. I find Maritime Peat, Cold Smoke, Brine, Bacon and Baked Potatoes from the BBQ, Wet Leather, Wet Newspaper, Wet Earth, Bread Dough, Cereals, Light Fruit (Pear Drops), Straw, very light Vanilla and, after a while, a hint of Tobacco. Five years is a very short time in the Cask and Colour and Nose tell that story. Still, it's not bad.

Palate: Sweet, Strong, Edgy, Peaty and Fruity New Make Spirit. I find Cold Smoke, Ashes, Brine, Wet Grass, Straw, Earthy Peat, Pear, White Pepper and Salted Nuts. The Alcohol is very strong, almost like a Peaty Peppered Vodka.

Finish: Middle-Long with Cold Smoke, Cigar Ashes, Earthy Peat, Licorice, Pear, White Pepper and Strong Alcohol.

Rating: 79.5

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 19.5 - Finish: 19.5 - Overall: 20

General Remarks: This Bunnahabhain was distilled in December 2006 and bottled in September 2012. It matured in a Bourbon Hogshead with Cask # 800041. This Single Cask expression is Uncoloured, Non-Chill-Filtered and bottled at Cask Strength. I'm not sure if it's still available. Whiskybase in Rotterdam, the Netherlands sold it at around 45 Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: It's almost too strong to drink neat. I don't want a hangover from this stuff! But with water it smells and tastes more like a Peated Vodka. And here's the problem. Five years in a Bourbon Cask is not sufficient to produce an interesting and tasty Bunnahabhain Malt. What you get is a Peated New Make Spirit that, although it possesses Islay and Fruity elements, is too harsh and rough to really enjoy. Interesting Tasting Experience though! 

The Bunnahabhain Distillery

Some Data: Bunnahabhain means Mouth of the River. The Distillery is located at the end of a 4 miles country road, close to Port Askaig on the isle of Islay.   It was founded in 1881 by William Robertson and the two brothers William and James Greenless, the owners of Islay Distillers Co.Ltd.  Nowadays it is owned by Burn Stewart Distillers, part of the South-African Distell Group since 2013. The Distillery possesses a large stainless steel Mash Tun, 6 Wash Backs (Oregon Pine) and 2 Pairs of Stills. In 2013 they produced around 1,5 million litres, of which 20% is the Peated "Moine". Bunnahabhain is an important part of Blends like Black Bottle, The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark.

The water for the distillery is sourced from the river Margadadale and Loch Staoisha. The Distillery is open from March to October (Monday - Friday 10.00 to 16.00) or by Appointment. The standard tour costs 4 pounds and there is also a VIP Tour that costs 25 pounds.

Warehouses at Bunnahabhain!

We planned to visit Bunnahabhain on Sunday May 18, 2014. Unfortunately the Distillery was closed, officially on account of some staff problems. From local people we heard however that the Distillery is usually closed in the weekends. Despite the pouring rain we were at least able to shoot a few pictures outside. I certainly hope I will be able to come back here one day. And hopefully while the sun is shining!

Whisky Rider in the Rain!

Jan van den Ende                                                                   June 2014