Bunnahabhain with a dark sherry finish can be great. Last year we already tasted a similar cask, the rather excellent Bunnahabhain 1974 by The Whisky Agency. This one (bottled by Adelphi) is even darker, let’s see if it tastes different.
Bunnahabhain 35 yo 1974
(56,6%, Adelphi 2009, sherry cask #4780, 200 btl.)
Bunnahabhain 35 yo 1974Nose: very meaty sherry. In fact, the first notes I got were of gravy with a “bouquet garni” (a classic mixture of herbs – rosemary and sage among others). Hints of mushrooms. Soy sauce. Quite peculiar but nice, and if you like old, slightly musty sherry, this is excellent. Prunes as well. Some chocolate coated marzipan.
Mouth: rich and mouth-coating. Slightly prickly and mentholated at full strength. Cinnamon. Kirsch. Demerara sugar. Drying towards very dark chocolate and liquorice. Water brings out traces of smoke.
Finish: long and slightly grapey. Very much on coffee and cocoa.
This Bunnahabhain is an impressive sherry bottling with various savoury and herbal notes on top of the usual deep fruity notes. Unique but rather expensive (€ 300),
Score: 91/100