Reviews on Dun Bheagan products.

[Frodo]

Hi everyone:

I recently took the plunge and bought a 10yr old Bottling of Bunnahabain 10yr (single Manzanilla cask bottling) by Dun Bheagan for $80 Cdn . Yes it's alot of money, especially for something I'm generally not a fan of. I guess I just felt this bottling was something I should try to get a good different perspective on the malt.

My question is this: How do people feel about the Dun Bheagan bottlings in general? I've only had the 8yr old Islay bottling which I consider great value at the LCBO. How have their other bottlings been received by people here? Does the bottling company have a good reputation?

I noticed that the tube containing the Dun Bheagan claims that the IB doesn't chill-filter. However, it doesn't say anything about adding colouring. And I do know that Provenance and OMC bottles do say they neither chill-filter nor add colouring. Does Dun Bheagan add colouring? Anyone know this - only some bottles perhaps?

Frodo

[Deactivated Member]

I would think it very strange to produce a bottling without chillfiltering, but with coloring. I would think it even stranger if it was a sherry-matured whisky. And given that it is a single cask bottling, I would think it utterly absurd. But I don't actually know, and stranger things have been done.

[SpiritofShetland]

Here in Norway we have to bottlings from Dun Bheagan (Ian Macleod) at the moment. And in the lists from Vinmonopolet (the state run monopoly) these are said to not contain E150 (The impoter is a vivid opponent of all addatives in spirits)

[Lord_Pfaffin]

Manzilla is also a potent herb that is commonly a part of a Curandismo's armamentarium used for casting hexes. I hope the whisky gets your mojo movin!

[Lord_Pfaffin]

Quite a collection:

DUN BHEAGAN 8 YEARS OLD REGIONAL MALT COLLECTION
Dun Bheagan Pure Malt 8 YO 70cl @ 43% vol
Dun Bheagan Lowland Single Malt 8 YO 70cl @ 43% vol
Dun Bheagan Speyside Single Malt 8 YO 70cl @ 43% vol
Dun Bheagan Highland Single Malt 8 YO 70cl @ 43% vol
Dun Bheagan Islay Single Malt 8 YO 70cl @ 43% vol
Dun Bheagan Island Single Malt 8 YO 70cl @ 43% vol

DUN BHEAGAN VINTAGE SINGLE MALT - SINGLE CASK
(Individual Tube Packaging )
Allt A Bhainne (1975) Refill Sherry 28 YO 70cl @ 61% Vol
Bunnahabhain (1994) Manzanilla Finish 10 YO 70cl @ 46% Vol
Convalmore (1975) Hogshead 28 YO 70cl @ 46% Vol
Glenallachie (1991) Bourbon Barrel 12 YO 70cl @ 43% Vol
Glenallachie (1991) Sherry Finish 13 YO 70cl @ 43% Vol
Glenrothes (1990) Sherry Hogshead 13 YO 70cl @ 43% Vol
Ledaig (1974) Hogshead 29 YO 70cl @ 50% Vol
Littlemill (1984) Hogshead 19 YO 70cl @ 46% Vol
Littlemill (1984) Sherry Finish 21 YO 70cl @46% Vol
Mortlach (1993) Port Finish 11 YO 70cl @ 43% Vol
Rosebank (1991) Bourbon Barrel 13 YO 70cl @ 46% Vol
Scapa (1977) Rum Barrel 26 YO 70cl @ 46% Vol
Tamdhu (1990) Sherry Finish 13 YO 70cl @ 43% Vol
Teaninich (1984) Sherry Wood 18 YO 70cl @ 59% Vol
Linkwood (1994) Hogshead 10 YO 70cl @ 43% Vol
Glen Scotia 29 YO 70cl @ 43.6% Vol
Caol Ila 12 YO 70cl @ 43% Vol ISLAY
Springbank (1969) 36 YO 70cl @ 50% Vol CAMPBELTOWN

DUN BHEAGAN - GIFT BOX for 1 bottle containing
Father's Day Gift Box (1 x 70cl 15 YO Highland Single Malt @ 43% + 2 branded nosing glasses) and branded carrier bag.

OLD AND CURRENT BOTTLINGS TASTING NOTES

Allt A Bhainne 17 YO - 43%: Ex Bourbon Hogshead
Nose: Oily, fatty, floral and perfumy.
Body: Light and fresh. Light spice, oaky sweetness, light vanilla.
Finish: Dry, malty and vanilla

Allt-A-Bhainne - 28 YO - 1975 - 61%: Refill Sherry
Nose: Orange glazed gingerbread. Acacia honey, light iodine and cloves.
Body: Sweet, prunes, peppery, chocolate, fudge, rubbery.
Finish: Soft sweetness, wild strawberry jam. Comforting.

Benrinnes - 10 YO - 1993 - 43%: Sherry Wood
Nose: Light, mellow, pear drops, fruity sweetness.
Body: Toffee apples, nutty, light smoke.
Finish: Dry, malty, light floral notes.

Bunnahabhain - 10 YO - 1994 - 46%: Manzanilla Finish
Nose: Jammy, lightly salty, kale, fresh salmon eggs.
Body: Full bodied, oaky, smoked mussels and lobster.
Finish: Dry, salty and herbal.

Caol Ila - 12 YO - 1993 - 43%
Nose: Seaweed, light peat smoke, green apples and honey.
Body: Beautifully balanced: soft peat, bitter chocolate and sea breeze.
Finish: Fresh, lemon and fennel.

Clynelish - 21 YO - 1983 - 56.9%: Hogshead
Nose: Gingerbread, candyfloss, peppermint.
Body: Light smoke, citrus sweetness, and spice. Extremely long
Finish: Fresh, spicy and dry. Mouth warming.

Convalmore 18 YO 1985 - 43%: Hogshead
Nose: Soft, slightly oaky, smoky, grassy and light spice.
Body: Citrusy and smoky. Medium honey sweetness.
Finish: Lingering sweetness and citrus notes

Convalmore - 28 YO - 1975 - 46%: Hogshead
Nose: Violets, spicy citrus peel, light bees wax and oak, mellow and complex. Slightly meaty.
Body: Medium sweet, powerful and well balanced. Orange blossom, sweet ginger, peppery, slightly grassy.
Finish: Medium dry. Minty and dried tobacco.

Glenallachie - 13 YO - 1991 - 43%: Sherry Finish
Nose: Fresh, malty and citrus fruit.
Body: Smooth, delicate, oily, light nuttiness, fresh coconut, touch of spice.
Finish: Light, long lasting maltiness.

Glenlossie - 11 YO - 1992 - 56%: Port Finish
Nose: Fresh, red berries, beautifully balanced with floral notes.
Body: Rich, sweet, earthy and spicy
Finish: Dry, mouth warming and biscuity

Glenrothes - 13 YO - 1990 - 43%: Sherry Wood
Nose: A combination of fruit and spice. Bonbon.
Body: Light peat, rich, powerful, medium sweet.
Finish: Dry and spicy.

Glen Scotia - 29 YO - 1975 - 43.3%: Rum Barrel
Nose: Fresh, leathery, incense, dry saltiness, honeycomb
Body: Litchees, green pineapple, spicy fruit.
Finish: Spicy, fresh and dry with lingering coconut oil notes

Ledlaig - 29 YO - 1974 - 50%: Hogshead
Nose: Polishy, lily's spice. Iodine and light peat.
Body: Powerful. Rugged and wild with spicy and smoky notes. Sweet pine..
Finish: Dry, lingering spice, oak and peat smoke.

Linkwood - 12 YO - 1991 - 43%: Port Finish
Nose: Rose petals, waxy, cinnamon
Body: Fruity, light spice, mellow sweetness
Finish: Fresh. Mouth-watering. Dry smoky finish

Littlemill 19 YO - 1984 - 46%: Hogshead
Nose: Grassy, oily, beewax
Body: Medium sweet melon, slightly dry, pepery, fresh oak
Finish: Dry, citrusy, midsummer's night malt.

Littlemill 21 YO - 1984 - 46%: Sherry Finish
Nose: Medley of fresh fruit and herbal notes. Peach juice and fresh straw.
Body: Herbal and nutty. Sweetness followed by grapefruit juice and green woodiness.
Finish: Citrusy, light and delicate. Plain waffles.

Mortlach 10 yo 1993 - 43%: Sherry Wood
Nose: Elegant and crispy. Perfumy and fruity. Nectarine.
Body: Rich , light smoky edge followed by treacle and fruit. Powerful
Finish: Long, medium sweet and dry. Minty.

Mortlach 11 yo 1993: Port Finish
Nose: Perfumy, lilac, forest leaves and chestnuts.
Body: Almonds, soft and round, dry. Light spice and gingerbread.
Finish: Liquorice, cider and peach.

Rosebank 13 YO 1991 - 46%: Bourbon barrel
Nose: Fresh, lemony, vanilla pods, very feint smoke. Grassy notes, strawberry jelly.
Body: Lightly smoky, gooseberries, peppery, dry gingery spice.
Finish: Dry lemon and grapefruit peel. Fresh redcurrants.

Springbank 35 YO - 1969 - 50%: Refill Sherry Butt
Nose: Light morning sea breeze. Light malty notes. Wine gums
Body: Soft yet powerful. Apple drops, white raisins. Medium spice
Finish: dry and light oak essence and ginger.

Springbank 36 YO - 1969 - 50%: Sherry Butt
Nose: Elegant nose of marinated apples, toffee sauce and milk chocolate.
Body: Full bodied, complex with light spice. Dark prunes and brambles.
Finish: Malty, light salt and floral grassy notes.

Tamdhu - 13 YO - 1990 - Sherry Finish
Nose: Elegant. Demerara sugar, rose petals and cinnamon apples with oaky side notes.
Body: Powerful but rounded. Medium sweet malt, light fruitiness and spice. Leafy.
Finish: Round, fresh and grassy.

Teaninich 18 YO - 43%: Sherry Butt
Nose: Rich fruit, spice and ginger.
Body: Toffee apple, light smoke and cinnamon
Finish: Soft and slightly peppery

Teaninich - 18 YO - 59%: Sherry Butt
Nose: Rich fruit, spice and ginger.
Body: Toffee apple, light smoke and cinnamon.
Finish: Soft and slightly peppery.

[Frodo]

Wow Lord P, you've tried all those bottlings!!!! You must be a fan!! Any feedback on the general quality taking price into consideration?

[Admiral]

Credit where credit is due....Lord_Pfaffin make the extensive post above, not Mr T.

I haven't tried many of their single cask bottlings, but I recently tried a couple of the 8yo region bottlings.

I was particularly impressed with the Islay malt and the Island malt. For 8 years old, the youthfulness was kept sensibly in check. Good drams, and well priced, and - more to the point - they fill a gap that other bottlers leave exposed.

CHeers,
Admiral

[Frodo]

Sorry - correction done. You can't have tried all those ones Lord P. Seriously now...

[Lord_Pfaffin]

It's Dun Bheagan's collection, not mine.
I just posted a list of their bottlings for your edification. After examining the list, there aren't any that i wouldn't enjoy.
Frodo tsk tsk shake your head, the '74 Ledaig is probably $400cnd and thats not the best of the listed goodies! Perhaps only two or three on the list that i could afford.

[hpulley]

Dun Bheagans have been hit 'n' miss IMO. Some are quite good, others are not so good. The cheaper ones are more consistent but the old, expensive ones are not, IMO, as good as similarly priced bottlings from more well known bottlers.

Harry

[Tom]

Must agree with Harry. Having tried about 30 or so malts from Ian MacLeod it is indeed hit and miss. The dun Bheagan range seems to favor cask strength recently whereas the Chieftains Choice must be the one brand wich holds the most finishes. Cant say I was very dissapointed by any of these, but there have been only a few impressive surprises either. Tried both old and younger bottlings, and have been pleasantly surprised by both ages, an ALLT-A-BHAINNE from 28Y old is still one of the most complex drams I have at home. whereas I wasnt impressed by the Glen Scotia 30, both from Dun Bheagan. They have some incredible gems too, (Caol Ila Medoc finish, Tamdhu port finish...) but I get the impression these are rather the exceptions then the rule.
Can't say I would buy a Dun Bheagan bottling in blind faith.

[Deactivated Member]

I bought the Teaninich based on the review in JM's Whisky Bible. It is just as good as its billing - rich, smooth and complex. Perhaps it is the power of suggestion, but JM's note of swiss roll with raspberry jam and cream was uncannily accurate.

[Di Blasi]

I just picked up a dusty bottle of the Dun Bheagan Caol Ila 12y, 1992-2004 at the wine monopoly shop today. This is a great bottling, I think the first cask strength I tasted, but in it's 11y form. I picked this one up today cause it's good, but maybe also a collectable one for the future. Surprised to find it after not seeing around in the shops for awhile.

[Mr Fjeld]

I just picked up a dusty bottle of the Dun Bheagan Caol Ila 12y, 1992-2004 at the wine monopoly shop today. This is a great bottling, I think the first cask strength I tasted, but in it's 11y form. I picked this one up today cause it's good, but maybe also a collectable one for the future. Surprised to find it after not seeing around in the shops for awhile.

That's the one in your sample. It's fabolous isn't it? At which Vinmonopol did you find it - did they have any left?

[Di Blasi]

Yes, of course, the sampler I enjoyed recently, another reminder of how damn YUMMY it is, thanks!! Yes, they must've had another 4 or 5 bottles on the bottom shelf, collecting dust! Priced at 562kr, it's a great deal I think! If you contact your local shop and ask them to get the bottle shipped down from up here, I'm sure they can accomodate. If not, I can pick you up one if I get to Sogndal again before I get back to Bergen.