I’m still not sure what to think of heavily peated Bunnahabhain. I’m a big fan of the unpeated flavour profile you’ll find in the 12yo and the 18yo. Also, peated whiskies in general don’t really suit my personal preference. And while we’re at it: while I’ve had a few good ones recently, wine matured whiskies are very much hit or miss for me.
So you can maybe see my issue here with the Bunnahabhain 2008 Mòine Bordeaux Cask. However, it receives rave reviews over on Whiskybase, and is sold out everywhere. I’m ready to be surprised.
Bunnahabhain 2008 Mòine Bordeaux Cask (58.1%, OB, 2018)
Nose: The fruits immediately jump out, with blueberries and cherries leading the charge, all the while backed by hints of barbeque smoke and cured meat, as well as nougat. Rather delicious, although a tad shy.
Taste: Big and intense notes of rubber. Iodine even. With more tar, charcoal and peat to come, all of them completely overpowering the wine cask fruitiness, which is barely detectable.
Finish: Lots of peat and licorice, with a whisper of sal ammoniac.
Score: 83
While the nose offers more fruits, this is generally a proper, powerful and straightforward heavily peated whisky.
Photo: The Whisky Exchange
