So far there has only been one ‘black label’ from The Whiskyman, a Caperdonich 1972. It is reserved for extraordinary releases, old whisky that is hard to come by.
Last Friday, at the start of the Lindores festival, a second black label was presented, this Bunnahabhain 1973. Four members of the Lindores whisky club (Dirk, Geert, Christophe and Dominiek a.k.a. ‘The Whiskyman’) have turned 40 years old this year and they selected this cask as their private birthday dram.
The fab four asked me to design the label, and their heads are on the label. Don’t worry though, I’ve spent hours removing the wrinkles, pimples and double chins, it’s now suited for the front row of any whisky cabinet. Just kidding guys, congratulations!
Bunnahabhain 40 yo 1973 (48,5%, The Whiskyman ‘Birthday dram’ aka ‘Ugly Faces’ 2013, 155 btl.)
Nose: utterly fruity. Ripe bananas, almost a trademark of Bunnahabhain 1968 vintages. Juicy pears, mango, apricot and pineapple. Light hints of coconut and Moscatel wine. Honey. Less mineral than the Bunnahabhain 1973 in the Archives series, although the nose is nicely coated with waxy notes.
Mouth: sweet and fruity again, much in line with the nose. Full cases of bananas! Oranges, peaches. Stays very sweet and juicy all the way, again less herbal and zesty development than the Archives sibling. Some marzipan and honey. Well balanced oak.
Finish: long, elegant and fruity.
This is a great old Bunna, with a similar jammy profile to most of the 1968’s. Although I’ll give it the same score as the Archives release (we don’t do halves), I’d pick this one if I could only choose one. Not officially available in stores – start stalking your closest Lindores friend if you want a bottle. Or head over to the Lindores lounge in Oostende to have a dram.