Bunnahabhain 2018 The Single Malts of Scotland Small Batch 6 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay 

Refill Hogsheads

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Heavily Peated 

 

 

 

This heavily peated Bunnahabhain is a welcome addition to the new Small Batch collection launched last year by Elixir Distillers. Matured in five refill hogsheads, it has the vigour and spirit of youth, but at the same time is not overly powerful as the alcohol content remains relatively low. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

The nose seems perfect to me, lace-like limestone and freshly refined Guérande salt, sea breeze, seaweed, kelp, shellfish, all with a beautifully measured peatiness. Oysters and sweet white wine, yellow plums, lime, crystallised vanilla, a slight medicinal touch, ether. On the palate, it is somewhat oily, lemon, sea salt and ash, some spices, cloves and black pepper. Liquid honey. The finish is quite long, pleasant, mineral, salty, medicinal, chalky, nougat, coffee, light wood, wood-fired chestnuts.  

 

In Short, 

Considering its young age, this is a very pleasant surprise. The nose is particularly well crafted, with coastal and medicinal notes, very present peat that is not too strong, and well-balanced mineral notes. On the palate, however, it is less interesting, but still good. The finish is long and powerful just as it should be. My only regret is that with a few more years and cask strength, it would have made an excellent whisky, undoubtedly one of the best peated Bunnahabhains. That said, the profile is unique, with very intense peat and coastal notes, but not too high an alcohol content. The price is really very low, so it's hard to resist buying it. 

Score : 88 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

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