Liquid Art is the Belgian label that released the Glen Elgin 1995 ‘Stag Beetle’. Now there’s a second bottling, a Bunnahabhain 1987 ‘The Osprey’. One more label will follow designed by local artist Raymond Minnen, then they introduce a new artist.
Bunnahabhain 1987
(51,3%, Liquid Art 2014, 115 btl.)
Bunnahabhain 1987Nose: quite lovely. It’s fresh and tense, oily, with some brine and lots of waxed papers. Also crushed mint leaves and linseed oil. Faint earthy, mossy notes. Fino cask? The best part however – and this grows over time – is the underlying subtle fruitiness, a bright one, showing sourish apples and grapefruits but also more tropical-style fruits like melons and apricots. Just great.
Mouth: rich and oily, again a perfect balance of earthy coastalness and fruitiness. Salty notes, subtle pepper, then ripe apples, different berries, blackcurrant leaves and a bit of vanilla custard. Nectarine too. Impressive.
Finish: medium long, sweet and fruity, with hints of mocha and a little waxy oak.
A wonderful Bunna 1987, from the same family as the Bunna 1987 Mollusc & Medusa, I’d say. These guys know their whisky. Around € 150. Only around 25 bottles left, I’ve heard.
Score: 90/100