Bunnahabhain 17 Year Sauternes Cask Finish (Fèis Ìle 2019)

Returning to my stash of Bunna samples, this is one of two I have from 2019’s Feis Ile festival releases. It’s an unpeated Bunnahabhain that was matured first in ex-bourbon casks for 12 years and then in Sauternes wine hogsheads for five. This resulted in 1,118 bottles at an ABV of 54.2%, priced originally at 195 pounds. There’s a noticeable orange tinge to the liquid, a color I don’t recall seeing previously in a whisky. The nose is a little tight but with time and a dash of water gives up some sweet fruity notes in the canned fruit spectrum. It’s a similar story on the palate: juicy stone fruits, sweet but not cloyingly so. There’s a hint of something pleasantly funky on the finish, but it’s elusive. And that’s about it. It’s nice but not particularly interesting and I kept wishing for some smoke to dial up the complexity. I know that’s a combination that works because I have two delicious Springbank Society bottles that were matured in Sauternes for nine years. Let’s hope Bunnahabhain releases a Moine version one day. In the meantime, this is worth a try if you get the chance, but I wouldn’t chase a bottle, even at its original retail price.

Sweet and luscious. Nose: Apricots, Figs, Sultanas, Dates, White Chocolate, Plums, Raisins, Raspberries, White Grapes, Salted Caramel, Milk Chocolate, Ice Wine, Marshmallows, Lemon Meringue Pie Palate: Salted Caramel, Sultanas, Dark Chocolate, Honey, Dates, Prunes, Sunflowers, Walnuts, Orange Marmalade, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Dulce De Leche Finish: White Grapes, Sultanas, Luxardo Cherries, Salted Honey, Toffee, Brine, Vanilla, Dark Chocolate, Marzipan, Figs, Dates, Key Lime Pie

Unpeated. Smooth sweet nose and honeyed palate. Scotch Club - Doug’s house