Bunnahabhain Distillery. Port Askaig, Isle of Islay, PA46 7RP. Scotland.
Tel: +44 1496 840 646
Fax: +44 1496 840 248
Web: www.bunnahabhain.com
Email: info@bunnahabhain.com
Bunnahabhain (pronounced Bu-na-ha-venn) lies on the isolated north-eastern tip of Islay, close to the Margadale River (Bunnahabhain means mouth of the river in Scots Gaelic). Building of the distillery commenced on the site in 1881. At that time the sea offered the easiest access to this remote place and men would battle the ocean to arrive with their barley in preparation for the creation of something quite wonderful. Bunnahabhain is quite distinct from the other single malts of the island, given the wonderfully gentle taste for which it is known. The core range for Bunnahabhain consists of a 12, 18 and 25 year olds.
Bunnahabhain 12 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
7
Appetising and remarkably refreshing.
Bunnahabhain 14 Years Old Port Finish
Single Malt - Scotland - 53.00%
7
Front-loaded, clumsy and forced. Bunna's good enough on its own.
Bunnahabhain 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
7
I couldn't get past that taste of overfried bacon. This is a great malt distillery, and one of my favourites, so I am a little disappointed.
Bunnahabhain 1963
Single Malt - Scotland - 42.90%
8
The Islay origins become more obvious the more mature Bunnahabhain is. This one would be comfortable in distant Cathay or in Tokyo or even 42nd Street.
Bunnahabhain 1966
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.10%
7
The blood-orange hue suggests that this Bunnahabhain will in all senses be more colourful than the gentle 12 Years Old we normally encounter. Sun-dried whisky?
Bunnahabhain 1968 Auld Aquaintance, Hogmanay Edition
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.80%
8
A brilliantly sunny winter's day; a walk by the sea in late afternoon; a dram at dusk. Still Bunnahabhain, but so different.
Bunnahabhain 1968, The Family Silver Vintage Reserve
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
8
Because it is less aggressive than some of its neighbours, Bunnahabhain is often regarded as not being a proper Islay malt. This proves it can be.
Bunnahabhain 25 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
7
A bold spirit, tempered by well-timed maturation. A little flat to be truly great.
Bunnahabhain 35 Years Old Limited Edition
Single Malt - Scotland - 44.90%
8
You'd never guess this was 35. Great life, balance and bags of character. A beauty.
Bunnahabhain 12 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.30%
7
What was already a very fine (if underrated) 12yo has been given greater depth with a bump up in strength and non chill filtering. It's now one of the best on the market.
Bunnahabhain 18 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.30%
8
On the oak side but with depth and distinction.
Bunnahabhain 25 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.30%
8
The nose lets you expect sweeter notes. The palate is a bit disappointing.
Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhona
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00%
8
An appetising islander. On the sweet side. Bring the langoustines and the scallops.
Dewar Rattray Bunnahabhain 27 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 49.90%
8
Not as elegant and complex as some in this flight, but the breakfast it evoked was hearty and delicious.
Dewar Rattray Bunnahabhain 35 Years Old 1974
Single Malt - Scotland - 44.30%
7
The nose has got some complexity but the palate is overwhelmed and overdried by spices. It needs water.
Duncan Taylor Bunnahabhain 1969, 36 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.70%
7
Hasn't held up for its age anything like as well as the previous thirty-something Bruichladdich. The cask has won this battle.
Elements of Islay Bunnahabhain BN1
Single Malt - Scotland - 57.70%
7
Unusual profile for a... Bn ! Very interesting though. The perfect companion to a cheese and fruit plate.
Gordon & MacPhail Bunnahabhain 1989
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
7
A breakfast whisky for the truly decadent.
Murray McDavid Bunnahabhain 1979 Bourbon Barrel
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
6
Surprising peatiness, but without smokiness.
Murray McDavid Bunnahabhain 1979 Sherry Cask
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
7
For an allegedly light malt, the flavours sing through but, as the dark colour suggests, there really is too much wood.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society Bunnahabhain, 10.56
Single Malt - Scotland - 59.40%
8
I admired its feistiness, but I might be more comfortable with a greater degree of maturity.
The Whisky Exchange Bunnahabhain 27 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00%
7
A welcome addition.
Dave and Goliath
Dave Broom speculate on the fate of the smaller whisky brands faced with today's globalised marketplace
October 2002, Issue 26, page 8
At the helm
Whisky and sailing goes well together,as Rob Allanson found out when he took to the high seas with the Bunnahabhain crew
September 2007, Issue 66, page 59
WORLD'S BEST SINGLE MALT WHISKY
YOICHI 20 YEARS OLD
April 2008, Issue 71, page 23
Dubai's whisky paradise
Joe Bates with the latest from travel retail
March 2006, Issue 54, page 55
Ask the expert
In 2003 I purchased a bottle of Glenfiddich Concorde Private Vintage 1976 while on a transatlantic flight. I hasten to add that I was travelling on air miles. I paid £200 for the whisky and it remain...
September 2009, Issue 82, page 73
Royal Return
On the Queen's yacht,Michael Jackson is back in Leith and heading for Islay
March 2006, Issue 54, page 11
Flying to Frankfurt?
Joe Bates heads out to Germany's largest place of work to check out the whisky selection
January 2009, Issue 77, page 34
The softer side of Islay (Bunnahabhain)
Bunnahabhain is the foil to Islay's claymore, finds Ian Buxton
November 2002, Issue 27, page 44
Asia loves Macallan
Jonny McComick reflects on three very different whisky sales
July 2011, Issue 97, page 82
Feis Ile 2011
The 2011 Feis Ile proved to be another huge success, with the distilleries yet again upping their game, all in the name of fun, frivolity and peated whisky. The sideways rain, which hit early on the f...
July 2011, Issue 97, page 7
Ask the expert
John Rose fields more of your questions
September 2007, Issue 66, page 31
Welcome to Islay's gentle soul
It calls itself the gentle malt of Islay,but Bunnahabhain is much more than just that.Dominic Roskrow braved
the last blast of winter to visit it
April 2008, Issue 71, page 42
Inside track
Keir Sword of Royal Mile Whiskies is in the chair
July 2002, Issue 24, page 72
The real Islay spirit
Brian Palmer, whisky Magazine's first ever tee-total contributor, reveals the Ileach view of Islay's famed annual whisky celebration
August 2002, Issue 25, page 82
Power to the people
In the latest of our series celebrating some of whisky's lesser known personalities, Dominic Roskrow catches up with David Wood, owner of The Wine Shop in Leek,Staffordshire.
April 2009, Issue 79, page 33
The rise of the independents
A couple of years ago there was a spate of takeovers of Scottish distilleries and independent buyouts. What happened to them? Ian Buxton investigates
March 2005, Issue 46, page 48
Heading Downtown
America's most famous city hosts the greatest whisky show on earth,we find out more
June 2008, Issue 72, page 9
Marriages made in Hebrides
It's easy to spice up your food offering with whisky. Here Martine Nouet uses Islay and Jura to pep up her menu
June 2004, Issue 40, page 58
The state of independents
How good are the independent bottling companies? We decided to find out in our biggest ever tasting – more than 175 entrants in 24 categories,judged by nine judges over seven weeks. Dominic Roskrow ...
September 2005, Issue 50, page 16
Limburg Whisky Fair 2005
In just three years, the Whisky Fair at Limburg in Germany has established a good reputation and continues to attract excellent visitor numbers.
March 2005, Issue 46, page 15
Island delights
The Ardbeg candelight dinner is becoming an institution. Martine Nouet, who is at the event's core, reports on this year's event
July 2006, Issue 57, page 42
Islay Whisky Festival, the must for May
Martine Nouet describes the highlights visitors can anticipate at this May's Islay Whisky Festival
June 2003, Issue 31, page 28
Getting a taste for it
Whisper it quietly, but right across the planet a low-key revolution is taking place. Wherever I travel – Havana, New York, London, and er, Cromer, whisky enthusiasts are meeting to share, taste and...
June 2005, Issue 48, page 5
From Tobermory to Tobago
Burn Stewart has a global presence after its recent purchase by a Caribbean based company. Peter Mulryan finds out what its plans are.
September 2003, Issue 33, page 48
Ask the expert
John Rose answers another selection of our readers' letters
November 2006, Issue 60, page 33
Spectacular!
Jonny McCormick reports on the year's top priced bottle and salutes Glenmorangie's gains.
July 2010, Issue 89, page 82
On Islay every day's a festival
The Islay festival starts on May 27th. We decided to host a pre-festival dinner on the island and invited all the distilleries. Dominic Roskrow reports
April 2005, Issue 47, page 30
Parker's Progress
Richard Parker is turning a passion for whisky in to a healthy business. Dominic Roskrow reports
November 2006, Issue 60, page 27
Whisky's coming home
Joe Bates with the latest from travel retail
January 2006, Issue 53, page 55
Jack meets, shoots, and leaves
Jack and Jean Oswald have turned their passion in to a hobby and business. Dominic Roskrow reports
November 2005, Issue 52, page 34
The whisky forum
Whether you are bemused, confused, excited or delighted, share your views and opinions with other Whisky Magazine readers.
April 2005, Issue 47, page 14
That's the spirit-
Mystery visitor goes to Islay
October 2002, Issue 26, page 26
It's Islay Time
Jonny McCormick examines how a clutch of Feis Ilé bottlings fared at auction.
June 2010, Issue 88, page 74
Stepping up
William C. Meyers was one of three writers tasked with updating Michael Jackson's Malt Whisky Companion for a sixth edition. So who is he?
June 2010, Issue 88, page 35
Ralfy's world
No one covers whisky quite like Ralfy Mitchell does. His blogs and video postings are a law unto themselves. Dominic Roskrow reports
July 2011, Issue 97, page 43
Whisky paradise
In the latest in our series on visiting distilleries Caroline Dewar looks at Islay and Jura
March 2006, Issue 54, page 38
The Miller's Tale
Thank you to everyone who exhibited and attended Whisky Live. And to the Whisky Magazine team who contributed to making it such a fantastic event. It was the biggest ever and a sell out.
There were, ...
June 2003, Issue 31, page 5
The BIG Apple
America's east coast metropolis braced itself for the greatest whisky show on earth
June 2007, Issue 64, page 58
Please, don't bring me sunshine
Jim Murray knows one peculiar breed of Scotsman currently enjoying the wet conditions that are leaving thousands of Britons' homes under feet of water- the distiller
April 2001, Issue 15, page 8
Class of their own
We showcase the results from this year's Independent Bottlers' Challenge.
September 2009, Issue 82, page 8
Something fishy or a salt on the senses?
Ian Wisniewski explores the phenomenon of marine characteristics and asks why we can taste the sea when we drink some malts
July 2004, Issue 41, page 58
Shopping Liszt
Joe Bates finds shopping at Budapest airport plays to a new tune
April 2011, Issue 95, page 33
Festival Takes Off
Our man gets to the heart of the Islay Whisky Festival and uncovers some gems.
July 2010, Issue 89, page 57
A question of choice
Michael Jacksonponders the age old question of what's your favourite
August 2006, Issue 58, page 11
A sense of Islay
Martine Nouet takes a scent and taste tour of whisky's most famous island as a preview for the forthcoming Islay Whisky Festival 2002
May 2002, Issue 22, page 30
National treasures
We showcase the results from this year's Independent Bottlers'Challenge
October 2008, Issue 75, page 14
Blogging it
Richard Jones surfs the ‘net to find some of the more interesting sites of whisky comment and debate
June 2007, Issue 64, page 30
A week in paradise
The Islay Festival is the highlight of the Scotch whisky year. Martine Nouet looks ahead to this year's activities
May 2004, Issue 39, page 36
The tale of two malts
Tobermory on Mull is enjoying a place in the spotlight for a change. Dominic Roskrow visited it.
September 2009, Issue 82, page 40
Whisky's own grand national?
Ian Bankier's dream is to give whisky lovers a national retail chain of their own. Gavin D Smith spoke to the former Burn Stewart boss
June 2004, Issue 40, page 57

