We’ve got a buried treasure story for you, complete with a windswept island setting, and casks of rare, golden whisky.
Bunnahabhain distillery (opens in new tab), founded in 1881, sits on the north-east shore of Islay, the southernmost of the Hebridean islands, off the west coast of Scotland. This remote location, with its cold sea air and pure spring water, is key to the unique character of Bunnahabain whisky, which also holds the distinction of being the only ’non-peated’ Islay single malt. Its taste is quite different from the others; smooth and subtle, it is known as the ’gentle taste of Islay.’
The hero of our Scottish tale is Ian Macmillan, Bunnahabhain’s esteemed master distiller, with over 30 years experience under his kilt. Perusing the ancient whisky ledgers, he happened upon an entry that referred to casks laid down four decades ago. Immediately realising its significance, and with mounting excitement, he followed the trail to the cavernous Bunnahabhain storerooms, and discovered the ’Turney’ casks, filled with precious malt whisky by eminent Glasgow wine merchants, J G Turney, and known for being the highest standard of quality. They had remained hidden, quietly maturing, for over 40 years.
The exhilaration of this incredible discovery was fully justified upon sampling the whisky, for the years had treated it well. The taste is magnificent and unique, with fragrant notes of sweet oak, hazelnut, citrus, and chocolate, finishing with just a hint of sea salt that places you at Bunnahabhain’s island home.
Even by Bunnhabhains’s rareified standards, this was a very special find; pure gold (literally) to international collectors of rare malts. The distillery has announced it will release a one-off prestige bottling of only 750 individually numbered and hand-signed bottles, presented in a bespoke oak box. Renowned illustrator Iain McIntosh (opens in new tab) was commissioned to design the beautiful label that commemorates this extraordinary event, and tells the story of Bunnahabhain 40 Year Old, with its 750 happy endings.
The Bunnahabhain distillery, founded in 1881, sits on the north-east shore of Islay, the southernmost of the Hebridean islands, off the west coast of Scotland
This remote location, with its cold sea air and pure spring water, is key to the unique character of Bunnahabain whisky, which also holds the distinction of being the only 'non-peated' Islay single malt. Its taste is quite different from the others; smooth and subtle, it is known as the 'gentle taste of Islay'
The storerooms at the distillery
Malted barley, the first ingredient of precious malt whisky
Fermentation takes place in 'wash back tubs', made from Oregon pine, to produce a weak solution called wash, that may then be distilled
Large oak casks arrive at the distillery. Their quality is intrinsic to the final taste of the whisky. The casks must be carefully inspected, and are rejected if found to be imperfect
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