Welcome to day 9. Time for a big peat offering. I picked this one as I thought it was a new offering from Bunnahabain but a little research seems to suggest it’s been around for a bit. So if you like this one even though I was only able to find it in a couple places in BC it’s out there, you just have to search. Let’s enjoy it together!
Whisky
Country: Scotland
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46.3
Profile
Burn Stewart Distillers incorporated the Bunnahabhain Distillery Company as a dormant business to oversee the operation of the eponymous distillery it had recently acquired from Edrington.
The company is directly owned by Burn Stewart’s South African parent company, Distell.
History
Although Bunnahabhain distillery was constructed during a period of confidence in the Scotch whisky industry in the late 19th century, its current owner appeared over 120 years later.
William Robertson (of Robertson & Baxter) founded Bunnahabhain on Islay’s remote north east coast in 1881, in partnership with the Greenlees Brothers. The partnership was incorporated as the Islay Distillery Company Ltd the following year, and became a founding company of Highland Distillers (the precursor to Edrington) in 1887.
Bunnahabhain’s single malt whisky was always destined for blending, particularly for Robertson & Baxter’s The Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark and – eventually – Black Bottle blends.
In 2003, despite growing demand for single malt whiskies, particularly from Islay, Edrington sold Bunnahabhain and Black Bottle to Burn Stewart Distillers for £10 million. The distillery’s new owner incorporated the Bunnahabhain Distillery Company the same year to oversee its operation.
Burn Stewart itself was sold by the receivers of its Trinidad-based owner CL Financial – which went bust in 2009 – to South African drinks producer Distell in 2013.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Windex/ammonia, Candied bacon, Weeding dandelions in the front yard, Feet after a longish day in shoes, Honeydew, Smoke
Taste: Carrot cake, Happy like a dog chewing on a hardwood stick that’s been lightly charred in the fire, Sweet & savoury
Finish: Smokey apple pie, Vanilla, Differences in wood and moisture content, Heavy smoke, Some sweetness
Purchase Links
BC Liquor
Tudor house Liquor