One of Islay’s Few Distillers Takes Nod From Recent Rise in Popularity to Bottle Exceptionally Pricey Cask of Whisky

Bunnahabbhain

The Spirits Business reported on Monday that the Islay scotch whisky brand Bunnahabhain released a 32-year-old  single malt matured in an oloroso sherry butt in partnership with The Whisky Exchange. The expression is set to retail on The Whisky Exchange for $2,505.

Just 537 bottles are available.

The single malt scotch clocks in at an ABV percentage of 54.8%, and the aging process “complements the distillery’s character without overpowering it,” according to The Whisky Exchange.

The Whisky Exchange head buyer, Dawn Davies MW was said to have collaborated with Master Distiller Emeritus Brendan McCarron to select the whiskey according to the brand.

Bunnahabhain is no stranger to releasing its expression in smaller quantities. The scotch distillery released a 2008 expression that was aged for 11 years in Manzanilla wine casks which received an 8 at Whisky Raiders. The distillery specializes in unpeated Islay Single Malt whiskies.

This sets the producer apart, as peat is often considered a major identifying characteristic of whiskies produced in Islay, according to Flaviar.

Founded in 1881, Bunnahabhain relied heavily on maritime trade according to the brand. The distillery was mothballed briefly in the 1930s, yet was resurrected and grew rapidly in the 1960s. Bunnahabhain’s 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, its flagship, was introduced to the world and put the producer on the map.

The distillery made the choice to produce its whiskies without chill filtering, and the brand continues to grow.

Bunnahabhain 1990 32 Year Old Oloroso Butt Whisky Exchange Exclusive Tasting Notes, via the brands

Aroma: Raisins, candied orange peel, baked almonds and treacle, with hints of forest floor and tobacco leaf.

Palate: Candied orange peel, rum-soaked dried fruits, a hint of orange blossom honey, leather armchair and incense spice.

Finish: Lengthy, and nutty.

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Cynthia Mersten is an Editor for Bottle Raiders and has worked in the Beverage Industry for eight years. She started her career in wine and spirits distribution and sold brands like Four Roses, High West and Compass Box to a variety of bars and restaurants in the city she calls home: Los Angeles. Cynthia is a lover of all things related to wine, spirits and story and holds a BA from UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television. Besides writing, her favorite pastimes are photography and watching movies with her husband.