This Bunnahabhain 1980 was released by Eiling Lim in early 2015, alongside a Littlemill 1990. It’s her first Islay release.
Both are sold out and I’ve heard a big part of the yield was shipped to Lim’s birth country Malaysia, which is a good thing as this proves original concept (introducing high-quality independent bottlings there) is successful.
Bunnahabhain 34 yo 1980
(46,2%, Eiling Lim 2014, 50 btl.)
Nose: a hugely elegant, pleasantly discreet profile, which needs some time. Leathery notes and a hint of eucalyptus and menthol. Also subtle fruity notes underneath, light jams, figs, ripe gooseberries and meadow flowers. Nice waxy touches and honey. All this with some subtle sea spray. Pretty great but you have to be patient.
Mouth: apricots and oranges at first, light honey again, with some greenish, sappy oak moving in. Light heather honey. Hints of green tea. mooth and old-fashioned. Also a light herbal touch, getting close to hoppy or marihuana-like flavours. Really.
Finish: long, with some bitterness from the oak and the return of the orange (peel) and green tea.
It was the right time to bottle this while the mature oakiness is not yet a problem. Now it’s just a lovely old-fashioned Bunna. Around € 250.
Score: 89/100