The Bunnahabhain Whiskey Factory was founded in 1881 on Islay Island by William Robertson and the brothers James and William Greenles. Translated from Gaelic, this name means "estuary". The specific "Bunnahavein" is quickly remembered by many lovers of spirits and was appreciated by gourmets.
During the XX century, malt whiskey was twice discontinued and re-launched. Ultimately, production was limited to a few small batches per week after the acquisition of the plant in 1999 by Edrington.
In 2003, the owner sold Bunnahabhain to Burn Stewart Distilleries for £ 10 million. Today, the company's production volume is 2.5 million liters per year. Of this amount, 21,000 barrels are stored in the distillery for ripening, and the finished whiskey will be used for blending the Black Bottle and for bottling in the form of single malt Bunnahabhain whiskey. The rest of the products are sent to ripen elsewhere. Bunnahavein is the northernmost distillery on the island. It is located in a large bay and takes water from the Margadeil spring.
Bunnahabhain whiskey is completely different from other single malt drinks produced on the island. Firstly, it is prepared using intact malt barley in a time-tested distillation process, and secondly, isolated production takes advantage of pure spring water that flows freely underground from peat moorlands.
What kind of drink can be found on sale?
Bunnahabhain whiskey is produced in several versions, including limited ones. Most often on sale you can find the following types of drink:
- The 12-year-old Bunnahavein is the most common product available in most specialized alcohol stores.
- Bunnahabhain, aged 18 years, is a mass-produced drink that has a more interesting and rich taste.
- 25-year-old Bunnahavein is a strong alcoholic drink that is great for gourmets.
- 40 years old Bunnahabhain is an elite whiskey purchased for special occasions.
- Whiskey Bunnahabhain An Cladach.
- Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhòna.
- Bunnahabhain ceobanach
12 year old strong drink
This single malt Scotch whiskey was the beginning of the Bunnahavein line, designed for high marks and praise. According to reviews, the drink has a charming balance of sweet fruits, nuts, vanilla and a delicate sandy aroma.
The color of this whiskey is reddish brown golden, and the aroma is fresh and intense. According to experts, this smell can be classified as fruity floral with hints of dried fruit and a subtle note of smoke.
The taste of the drink is light with a fruity and nutty flavor, with sweetness and soft shades of vanilla and caramel. The finish is long, rich and rich. The cost of Bunnahabhain whiskey 12 years of aging is about 8 thousand rubles per bottle.
Bunnahabhain 18 year old
As a positive step for whiskey lovers, the producers decided to bottle an 18-year-old drink without cold filtering and staining. This has made the product unique in its own way.
The aroma of the drink is dominated by salted caramel, passing to sugary iris pudding sprinkled with nutmeg. In the aftertaste leather notes were noticed.
As already noted, the taste of this whiskey is unique. It consists of thick, saturated, uneven sweet notes, animated by sea salinity. On the second wave, roasted chestnuts and delicate woody spices appear. The aftertaste is expressed in mixed spices. In the mouth for a long time there is warmth with a touch of salt and sherry.
In general, 18-year-old Bunnahabhain whiskey, produced without cold filtration, is thick and oily and easily shows off its hues of taste and aroma. The cost of this drink is 17 thousand rubles per bottle with a capacity of 0.7 liters.
Bunnahabhain an cladach
This is an updated version of the 18-year-old Bunnahabhain, which rejected caramel coloring and cold filtration. It increased the strength from 46.3% to 50%. According to reviews of Bunnahabhain whiskey, this drink quickly became considered a masterpiece among lovers of quality alcohol.
Bunnahavein of this variety, released for the Travel Retail market, is a sherry drink with enough spices designed to balance the sweetness beautifully. The name of this whiskey means "coast" in the Gaelic language of the Scots.
Almonds and cherries, fruit coffee dominate in the bouquet of aromas in the drink, there is a hint of wet oak. The taste is clearly felt raisins and cherries, as well as black pepper and cloves. There are also pleasant notes of walnut. The finish is quite long, giving off a lot of malt.
Bunnahabhain cruach mhòna
The name of the whiskey Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhona can be translated from Gaelic as "a repository of peat material." It alludes to smoke, which is present in abundance in the taste and aroma of the drink. Its strength is 50%. The drink can be purchased in some stores at a price of 6 thousand rubles.
The aroma of this whiskey is dominated by smoke, peat and vanilla, there are dried herbs, cookies and fruits. The taste of the drink is sweet and smoky, and lemon, salt and pepper are clearly felt in it. During the tasting, the second wave reveals oak, malt and hints of sand dunes. The finish is represented by sweet smoke and citrus.
Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old
In order to please connoisseurs of whiskey, Bunnahabhain 25-year-old bottled without filtering and cooling. Glass containers are then placed in a package of smoked oak and marked with a label 25 years ago.
The aroma of the drink feels like a sweet toffee and polished skin with cinnamon and a faint shade of cardamom. It tastes like fruit punch, poured with cream and sprinkled with powdered sugar, which is then transformed into fried malt, chestnuts and boiled raisins.
The aftertaste such as burnt sugar, mixed spices, nutmeg and caramel remain in the mouth for a long time.
On the whole, Bunnahabhain of twenty-five years of age reveals many rich and vibrant aromas and tastes that are tasted by the taster long after the glass has been emptied. The cost of this elite whiskey is approaching 60 thousand rubles.
Bunnahabhain 40 years old
If you are looking for some really old whiskey, you can opt for the 40-year-old single malt Bunnahabhain. This spicy smoky drink offers you to try a variety of fruit and oak notes, which impressively concentrated during the long ripening.
The aroma clearly hints of tropical fruits, bananas, berries, creamy toffee, vanilla, rich walnut and delicate oak. The taste immediately feels sweet malt, caramel, vanilla, as well as shades of roasted nuts and pineapples. The aftertaste of a strong alcoholic beverage is long-lasting sweet and fruity. The cost of this elite whiskey exceeds 200 thousand rubles per bottle.
Bunnahabhain ceòbanach
As for Ceòbanach whiskey, in this case, manufacturers drew inspiration from the days when peat alcohol was produced at the factory. The name of this variety of drink is translated as “smoky fog”. Ceòbanach definitely has a rich smoky aroma and taste that fans of quality whiskey like. It is kept in bourbon barrels and bottled without cold filtration.
Peat haze is very noticeable in the aroma, around which are concentrated: lemon peel, vanilla and creamy cookies. The taste is felt notes of the sea breeze and light tarry shades. They are joined by woody spices, citrus and pepper notes. The finish is smoky to the very end. The cost of this elegant drink is about 9 thousand rubles.