In 2019, the two 30,000-liter wash stills and the two 15,000-liter spirit stills from Bunnahabhain gave birth to a non-peaty new make which represents 60% of the distillery’s annual production. This is why this single malt occupies a special place not only in the world of Islays but also in the hearts of amateurs. Absolutely magnificent and particularly harmonious throughout the tasting, this version aged in sherry casks invites us to discover an aromatic and gustatory palette in which each note is a subtle blend of youth and maturity. With an unwavering unity of tone, it constantly oscillates between malty sequences where the spirited and somewhat wild personality of the distillate takes over,

Profile: both rich and elegant, the first nose is malty, chocolatey and medicinal (camphor). Airing reveals notes of apricot, coriander, lime blossom honey and wormwood. Very suggestive, the aromatic palette is crossed by the volutes of an earthy Havana. Tonic, the attack in the mouth is in turn chocolate and spicy. More and more medicinal, the mid-palate is floral (mimosa), fruity (orange) and exotic (mango).At the start of the finish, the malted barley and the sherry strike the perfect balance, which highlights the quality of a distillate that is both oily and floral. The finish is wonderfully oxidative (cherry brandy).

TASTING NOTE

Color: Bright orange copper.

Nose: Both rich and elegant. Immediately, on the first nose, notes of dark chocolate, malted barley and other more medicinal ones (camphor, balm) take over the olfactory space with great presence. After this extremely dynamic and powerful entry into the material, apricots, musk, lime blossom honey as well as sage and wormwood scents bring a lot of complexity and originality to the aromatic palette. Then, thick swirls of smoke escape from a Havana with a particularly earthy taste.

Palate: Frank, tonic. Oscillating between chocolate and spices (cloves, cardamom), the attack on the palate is also herbaceous (malted barley) and medicinal (sleet, tincture of iodine).In the mid-palate, heady flowers (broom, mimosa), iris concrete and bitter oranges rub shoulders with exotic fruits (mango, guava) and pine resin. Deliciously gourmet (gianduja, cafe creme), the aftertaste restores flavors of pipe tobacco.

Overall: Long, full of liveliness. At the start of the finish, malted barley and sherry found the perfect balance, thus highlighting all the complexity of a distillate that is both oily and floral (lavender, lilac).Further on, a magnificent oxidation with flavors of rancio (cherry brandy, raspberry brandy) and camphor extend the tasting time to infinity. In retro-olfaction, roasted pineapples refer to the exotic character of the mid-palate. Fermented and earthy, the empty glass is a true ode to malted barley. Magnificent.