Bunnahabhain 1967/2010 Malts of Scotland

After last Monday’s epic Millburn it is now time for another rare one: a Bunnahabhain 1967 bottled by Malts of Scotland. Although I associate Bunnahabhain with a sophisticated sherry influence, there are many good examples of ex-bourbon matured Bunna’s, as this one comes from a bourbon hogshead.

Bunnahabhain, whether old or young, is almost always a treat. It is somewhat of an oddity on Islay, a Mekka for peat lovers, because Bunnahabhain mainly produces unpeated whisky (or only 2 PPM, so very, very subtle), in which it distinguishes itself from most other Islay distilleries.

Bunnahabhain 1967/2010 (41,1%, Malts of Scotland, C#3315)

Nose: Beeswax and light fruits with a hint of furniture polish and a nice amount of oak shavings. There’s some mint, mandarin and lime, as well as vanilla custard and a touch of smoke. Soft, gentle. I could nose this forever.
Taste: Creamy and oily, with sweet vanilla in abundance, as well as a good amount of menthol and some cinnamon. Mandarin, red apple and peaches. Slightly bitter wood notes, but nothing too extreme.
Finish: Drying with plenty of oak, but the fruit also makes an encore.

Rating: 90

Wonderful old Bunnahabhain from the category of ‘They don’t make ’em like this anymore’.

Thijs Klaverstijn

Thijs is a spirits writer and accredited liquorist from The Netherlands. He runs the blog Words of Whisky and contributes to a number of Dutch and international publications.