SMWS 10.118 Enthralling pink and peat intensity

By Barry Bradford on April 1, 2020 • ( 1 Comment )

Bunnahabhain 10 Years Old 2006 10.118 Enthralling pink and peat intensity (60.6%, SMWS, 257 Bottles, 2017)

ABV: 60.6%
Age: 10 Years Old
Bottling: SMWS, Cask 10.118, 1st Fill Port Barrique Finished, 254 Bottles
Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky
Cost: £Sold out
Origin: Bunnahabhain Distillery
Vintage: 2006

What they say

Cask No. 10.118

Enthralling pink and peat intensity

Cask: First-fill Port barrique
Age: 10 years
Date distilled: December 2006
Alcohol: 60.6%

After nine years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this whisky directly into a 1^st fill Port barrique for the remainder of its maturation.

Official tasting notes:

The colour, a red blush like a rose wine, was aptly followed by sweet and fruity aromas of raspberry smoked maple jam, red candied apples and pink candyfloss.
Hot, smoky and ashy on the palate like applewood smoked chicken with Dijon rub as well as pancakes with maple syrup and bacon. With water it felt like being in a small smoky cottage eating exotic dishes like smoked plum and nectarine ice cream and macarons with a raspberry ganache whilst drinking a glass of smoky, refreshingly crisp mineralic Riesling rose wine.

What I say

Bottled by SMWS in 2017, this peated Bunnahabhain (Margadale) was matured in an ex-bourbon hogshead for 9 years before being finished for at least a year in a 1st fill ex port barrique, lending it its name Pink & Peat.

My tasting notes:

Appearance: Yellowy rose gold (7/20), large, oily tears and stout legs.
Nose: Peat smoke and ash but with a huge sweetness, smoked scallop meat, briny, strawberry marshmallow roasted over peat fire or beach bonfire, strawberry and lime jam, rose Turkish delight.
Taste: Hot, quite thin on the palate, hot smoked bacon/meat on rosemary skewers, jammy sweetness but oddly thin in texture, with time, well-toasted granary/brown bread coated in strawberry, plum and rose jam and candyfloss or marshmallow sweetness.
Finish: Long, gently sweet and nutty/creosote peat lingers with earthy coffee grounds and dark chocolate

Overall

A lovely mixture of sweet port influence and smoke. I was worried the palate at cask strength may have been a little overpowering but actually the sweet and peat aren’t too much. A nice earthy/turfy influence grounds this whole whisky while gentle spices fizz in the background. A pleasant surprise, a wonderful nose sets the standard for a great dram throughout.