I am absolutely loving the Signatory Vintage 1989 Bunnahabhain 26 Years Old!  It is drawn from two hogshead barrels and bottled at cask strength (brilliant!) by Independent bottler Signatory Vintage.  It sits at cask strength but this little gem has made its way down to 47.7% ABV, a very modest level but don’t let that fool you.  This whisky has lots of energy.

I have always had a wee soft spot for Bunnahabhain,  I think a lot of fellow whisky enthusiasts do!  It has always, to me, seemed like the wee distillery that just ticks along quite nicely and doesn’t make too much noise around its big, beautiful Islay sister distilleries. It is happy being the one that is different from the rest, quite rightly so in my eyes!  It is very hard to be the one to stand out from such an overwhelmingly well known island, but that is what makes whisky so exciting and each distillery so unique.  Bunnahabhain aka in Gaelic “Bu’n na h-abhainne” translates into English “the mouth of the river”, is notorious for not using much peat (if any) to malt its barley.  Setting it metaphorically miles apart from its close by neighbours.

Tasting Notes

……neat

Nose: Toffee covered, green apples with hints of honey-soaked straw.

Taste: Lively and syrupy mouthfeel with lovely orchard fruits.  Sweet to start with, a zesty after-note.  Really succulent apricot notes with hints of smoked vanilla pods.

Finish: Medium to long.  It makes me want more!  Fresh, lively citrus notes with heaps of malty, cereal qualities.

……with water

Nose: Sweet rosy red apples and vanilla honey. It brings back memories of rolling out hay bales.  That’s it, hay bales in an apple orchard!

Taste: Much more syrupy with a kick of menthol spice.  Smoke is definitely trying to sneak it’s way through, but doesn’t quite manage to get to the forefront.  Syrupy, like golden syrup mixed with lemongrass and spearmint.  Very different than before, in a really great way.

Finish: Round, oily and elegant.  With cleansing lemon and vanilla notes hanging around.

…….with ice

Nose: The nose is more butterscotch poured over lemon meringue pie.   The apple aromas have dropped into the background.  Still very enticing.

Taste: So clean, fresh and crisp.  Huge notes of vanilla and butterscotch ice cream with a hint of smoke lingering in the background.  Very warming however, for a whisky that starts off fresh and crisp. I am loving the journey this whisky is taking me on.

Finish: Smooth, fresh finish with a warming background.  Amazing!

A fabulous whisky!  It changes with every mouthful and each second.  To me it is a very elegant dram but you can’t take it at face value, it changes to become a much bigger beast. All in all this whisky is keeping me on my toes when it comes to the aromas, flavours and journey that it is taking me on. Grab a bottle here

Slainte Mhath!

Laura