Bunnahabhain 23 Years Old The Rare Casks Release 2

96 bottles @ 44% ABV, distilled 1989, bottled 2013, £72.95 for 70cl

Score 90/100

What They say:

The 2nd release in ‘The Rare Casks’ series by Abbey Whisky has arrived and it’s only right that we follow up the success of the 1st release with something exceptional and equally special. Casks from Islay have been like gold dust of late but we’ve managed to get our hands on a lovely smooth, peated Bunnahabhain, 23 years of age, from the magical Isle. Distilled in 1989, this special malt was aged in a refill bourbon barrel for 23 years before being bottled at natural cask strength of 44% vol. As with the 1st release only 96 bottles have been filled and made available for this limited edition release.

What I say:

Yum, an old Bunnahabhain! I have tried several Bunnahabhain expressions including the distilleries own 18 Years Old and never failed to have been impressed with their style.

Colour:

Pale straw gold

Nose:

Nose strong ester sweetness, ripe bananas, overipe bananas and more bananas, light floral notes, toffee and honey sweetness and a delicate nutty scent I associate with pistachio kulfi [or pistachio gelato]

Taste:

Palate smooth creamy honey, vanilla toffee leads to salted caramel and milk chocolate, beautiful! with water is like milk and honey

Finish:

Slightly salty, bitter chocolatey/peat smoke finish mellows out after addition of water

Would I buy it:

Overall fantastic, subtle and complex, I could drink this all day long! I found the peat influence very subtle as usual with Bunnahabhain expressions, and the cask influence perhaps very minimal, or at least superbly incorporated and balanced. The price tag is a little towards my upper [sensible] limit but then again this isn’t a sensible whisky – this is really very special.

Bunnahabhain 23 Years Old The Rare Casks is available from Abbey Whisky.