Bunnahabhain normally produces an unpeated spirit, but occasionally you can find a peated version. A lot of these were distilled in 1997, when the distillery manager decided to make something for “peatophiles”.
This is one of the recent additions to the Malts of Scotland range.
Bunnahabhain 11yo 1997 (55,3%, Malts of Scotland 2009, sherry hogshead #3172, 279 btl.)
Nose: it’s the peated barley that’s talking here. Ashes. Quite peppery, hints of tyres and chalk. Pleasant notes of pencil shavings and pear in the distance. The sherry shines through in notes of eucalyptus and a bit of butter caramel, but it’s not at all overpowering so it may have been a second fill cask. After a while, some candy sugar appears which makes it a bit more expressive and rounded.
Mouth: very powerful attack, very peaty and a tad bitterish. Very smokey. Again the sherry is on a second level, but it’s still trying to fight back (faint notes of fruit marmelade). Roasted nuts. Salty liquorice as well. Not the most complex whisky but still nice and balanced.
Finish: long, quite organic with a dash of salt.
A very good Bunnahabhain with big muscles. Around € 60.
Score: 86/100