A little trio of Bunnies


September 19, 2023

A little trio of Bunnies

Oh well, there's a very recent Bunnahabhain exclusive to The Whisky Exchange, while we cannot go to this year's Whisky Show in London. Two good reasons to taste this Bunnahabhain, and then we'll see...

(Bunny's big trumpets, WF Archive)

Bunnahabhain 32 yo 1990/2023 (54.8%, OB, Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange, oloroso butt, cask #7815, 537 bottles)

It's always tough not to think of the 'Auld Acquaintance' when trying any old sherried Bunnahabhain (Bunny for close friends and those in the know). Colour: rich amber. Nose: some faint steely notes at first, some genuine old oloroso as if we were nosing an actual old solera butt, the expected walnuts and these wee touches of mustard sauce, then crazy gravies, cigars, box of chocolates, ground coffee, and something between sauna oils, paraffin and lady's soap. A touch of wood varnish too. Awesomely deep and singular. With water: more varnish, paint, clove and beef jerky. The soap is gone – it wasn't exactly soap anyway. Mouth (neat): very heavy, bordering an old black Ténarèze, with loads of cracked pepper, myrtle and eucalyptus syrup, plus half a coffeepot of strong Turkish coffee. With water: still a little extreme on the sherry side, but with more prunes. And venison, and Marmite. Finish: very long, always with some varnish, which we love, something a little biting (chili) and some green pepper sauce. Pil-pil in the aftertaste, plus a small glass of the heaviest retsina. Comments: here's one with a lot to say... and it's full of pepper, clove, and echoes of jalapeno. What a brute! A lovable brute...
SGP:372 - 91 points.

Good, some sparring partner, perhaps a younger sherry monster…

Bunnahabhain 13 yo 2009/2022 (52.7%, Acla da Fans & Sansibar, sherry butt, 142 bottles)

Colour: red amber. Nose: we're extraordinarily close, with the same varnishes and cloves, chocolate, old tools, coffee, fresh cracked pepper… With water: oh, some ointments and balms coming out, this is becoming much more medicinal. Good fun but where does that come from? Mouth (neat): this one's more on chocolate, blueberry jam, a little rosewater and some orange zests. It's pretty different on the palate, which is absolutely normal. Perhaps a little gin. With water: chocolate flavoured with rosewater and lavender. Unusual, good fun. Finish: long and very, very chocolaty. These medicinal notes are back in the aftertaste, together with some heavy black liquorice. Comments: I suppose that's all a matter of previous content. It doesn't quite feel like it was just sherry, but the end result is very good for sure, if a little… unusual. Bu Bunnahabhain is a sponge, we all know that.
SGP:551 - 86 points.

A third and last one 'from the old days'…

Bunnahabhain 23 yo 1989/2013 (45.7%, Wilson & Morgan, Barrel Selection, PX finish, cask #5817/18, 626 bottles)

W&M have had some wonderful Bunnies. Colour: full gold. Nose: propolis and mirabelles, not a common combo. Tiger balm and pine needles isn't very common either, and neither is marmalade plus wormwood. You could use this one for a rubdown, I suppose. Mouth: extremely good, more on chocolate, fir liqueur, old aquavits and genevers, chartreuse, only a few drops of Pedro, some zests… It's becoming pretty liqueury, in a rather wonderful way. Finish: rounder, yet herbal, with a feeling of liqueur de sapin aged in old oak. Fudge and thin mints in the aftertaste. Comments: great drop, a little unusual perhaps but I think you could drizzle this beautiful Bunnahabhain over some amazing artisanal vanilla ice cream. Or there, an Italian caramel ice cream.
SGP:661 - 89 points.

We're going to taste massive amounts of Bunnahabhain in the coming weeks, brace yourselves, this was just a teaser.

(Et merci Lucero)

Check the index of all Bunnahabhain we've tasted so far