My explorations from a 2019 Whisky advent calendar are picking up pace! Each dram from this calendar was from a single cask, each unique, one-of-a-kind. This time I picked a pair of Bunnahabhains from Islay.

I decided to begin with the Bunnahabhain 10 year – anticipating that it would be without peat followed by the Staoisha 5 year. Named after Loch Staoisha on the Isle of Islay, when bottled as Staoisha, it is a signal that there is peat added to the mix.

Bunnahabhain 10 Year Old 2008 (cask 12663) 48% (Clan Denny, Douglas Laing)

• Nose – That typically sweet, sour, and saline quality that greets you with most Bunnas! Alongside the fresh sea breeze comes sweet cake, a drizzle of honey, and a faintly nutty undertone with vanilla
• Palate – Gentle and approachable, light spice joins tinned pineapples and more of that salt – quite pronounced
• Finish – Continues with the sweet, spicy, and salty character…

A promising start and time to shift to the next expression…

Staoisha 5 Year Old 2013 (cask 940) 59.3% (The Single Cask) 258 Bottles

• Nose – Now there is the peat! Smokey, fruity – especially the pineapple – which transforms from tinned to grilled – yum! Some bananas there too, opening into a medley of stewed fruits. Return to the nose again to discover that peat, sweet, with cinnamon, and spice. Also with a health dash of salt. Lovely!
• Palate – Initially a mild bonfire of spice and peat that swiftly gentled. It was delicious – like warm sweet bread.
• Finish – Cinnamon spice

There is no mistaking the peat in this one. It was really rather fabulous – a warm embrace.

I’m no stranger to this distillery… here is a sampling of other Bunnahabhain‘s sampled over the years…. many of which have age statements:

• 11 year 43% (G&MP Discovery)
• 14 year (Oct 2002 / Oct 2016) Bourbon Hogshead No. 3048, 56.7% (WW8)
• 18 year 46.3%
• 18 year (2002) 53.4% (Chorlton) 
• 24 year (1990) HH No 7398 51%
• 25 years (2016) 47.7% (Wiebers Brothers)
• 25 year (1991/2017) Cask 5436, 50.5% (Blackadder Raw Cask)
• 26 years (1988/2014) 48.6% (Signatory)
• 35 year (1979/2018) Sherry Cask#9521 47.9% (LMdW Artist #8)
• 40+ year (1977/2022) Sherry Butt No 7602 47.2% (LMdW Artist Collection #12) 

And a few more “modern” expressions without an age statement:

• Ceòbanach 46.3%
• Chuach-Mhona 50%
• Eirigh na Greine “Morning Sky” 46.3% Batch 1 + Batch 5

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