Bunnahabhain 1989 23 YO Great Cask Series

Bunnahabhain 1989 23 YO Great Cask Series, 44,1 %

Bunnahabhain is an Islay distillery, and something of a favourite of mine. That is to say, I often find that I like the whisky produced at Bunnahabhain - and that includes when I do blind tastings, like when  tasted this whisky. I am presenting the Bunnahabhain 1989 23 YO Great Cask Series from independent bottler whiskysite.nl today.

The Bunnahabhain 1989 23 YO Great Cask Series was distilled on 1989-10-20, and matured in a bourbon barrel (cask #5706) for 23 years. It was then bottled on 2013-03-07, with a total outturn of 15 bottles.

The whisky appears to be sold out now, but you can still purchase 6 cl samples at € 8.99.

Nose: Light, fresh and appealing nose. There's definitely red berries and grapes here, and we are on a beach somewhere subtropical. The weather is fine, and there is a light breeze bringing notes of vanilla, oak and menthol drops.

Taste: Again light and very approachable. Full and oily mouthfeel. Then, a wave of almost bitter notes ginger, menthol, eucalyptus, vanilla and oak.

Finish: Long finish. Sweeter now, but still with a bit of an edge. It's a touch oaky, but it is not dry. Soft tannins, with a bit of a bite still left in them, hiding in the back.

Comments: A fine if a bit strange dram. I think this was maybe bottled a year or two late.

Score (85/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas