Bunnahabhain – 30 Year Old (70cl, 46.3%)

Bunnahabhain – 30 Year Old is a whisky from Bunnahabhain (Islay). Aged 30 years, bottled at 46.3% ABV, 70cl. Islay’s remote north east coast might seem a strange place to find a substantial Victorian distillery, but it was chosen in 1881 by William Robertson in partnership with Greenlees Bros. as the perfect spot for his island vision. Constructing it meant not only building the distillery but houses as well, putting in a road, and adding on a pier so that casks and barley could come in, and whisky go out. Everything about Bunnahabhain is large, from the huge courtyard to the stills. It is these with their low fill levels and massive amount of available copper which help to craft what has always been a light style of malt. Ageing has traditionally been in ex-Sherry casks which adds a sumptuous sweet richness to the spirit. Although peat levels had dropped to virtually nothing from the 1960s onwards, Bunna’ did start life smokier than it is now. These days, around 20% of production is heavily peated, destined for a variety of bottlings, the main one being Toiteach. There is now a new distillery shop and bar with stunning views over to the Isle of Jura.