Whisky - UK (2020-05)

42 Whisky Magazine | Issue 167

casks on site of various sizes.”

A number of original buildings are

„‡‹‰”‡•–‘”‡†ǡƒ†ƒ‡™β‹ŽŽ‹‰•–‘”‡

constructed, while the production

building is being refurbished and

changed from relatively manual

operation to a much greater degree

of automation.

Andrew Brown explains that,

“Technology is implemented to monitor

key parameters of the process. The

production of new-make spirit is

overseen by a team of skilled operators

who ensure that technology doesn’t

Šƒ˜‡–Š‡⋐ƒŽ•ƒ›‹–Š‡“—ƒŽ‹–›‘ˆ–Š‡

spirit, and it’s this passion that shines

–Š”‘—‰Š‹–Š‡⋐‹•Š‡†’”‘†—…–Ǥ

“More than 50 per cent of what we

produce in 2020 will be laid down as

single malt, and our biggest markets are

currently the UK, US, France, Germany

and Taiwan.”

Bunnahabhain has long been noted

as one of the ‘mildest’ of the Islay

single malts in terms of peatiness, and

its large, slow-run stills allow for a

•‹‰‹β‹…ƒ–†‡‰”‡‡‘ˆ”‡βŽ—šǡ‡Šƒ…‹‰

the comparatively light style.

Andrew Brown notes that, “The

wash stills are the tallest on the island,

shaped like onions, and we only use 47

per cent of their capacity.”

Under the Edrington regime,

amounts of heavily-peated spirit were

also produced each year, and this

continues to be the case today, with

Distillery Focus Bunnahabhain

peated Bunnahabhain being referred to

as Moine – the Gaelic for peat.

Currently, 40 per cent of annual

production is dedicated to making

peated spirit, with the peating level

having been increased to 35-45ppm.

Peated Islay spirit is in demand by

third parties, and Bunnahabhain has

become increasingly popular as it

Šƒ•„‡…‘‡‘”‡†‹ˆβ‹…—Ž––‘•‘—”…‡

‘traditional’ peated Islays.

Š‡†‹•–‹ŽŽ‡”›ǯ•‘™β‹”•–’‡ƒ–‡†

expression was a 6-year-old named

Moine, which was launched in 2004.

Today’s core range of Bunnahabhain

includes 12, 18, 25 and 40 Years

Old expressions, along with the NAS

–‹î‹”‡ƒ†ƒ‹”ǡƒ–—”‡†‹β‹”•–ƒ†

•‡…‘†Ǧβ‹ŽŽ•Š‡””›…ƒ••ǡ’Ž—•ƒ„”ƒ…‡

of peated single malts. These are

Cruach Mhóna, which translates from

the Gaelic for cut peats stacked to

dry, and Toiteach a Dhà, matured in a

combination of ex-Bourbon and former

sherry casks.

Distell’s 2019 Limited Release

Collection included a Bunnahabhain

2007 Port Pipe Finish, a 2007 French

Brandy Finish and a 1988 Marsala

Finish, with more such bottlings

expected later this year, while a

plethora of other limited editions are

’”‘β‹Ž‡†‘–Š‡†‹•–‹ŽŽ‡”›™‡„•‹–‡Ǥ

Since 2010 Bunnahabhain has

been offering most of its mainstream

whiskies at a strength of 46.3% ABV,

rather than the previous 40 or 43%

ABV, and all the expressions are non-

…‘Ž‘—”‡†ƒ†‘Ǧ…Š‹ŽŽǦβ‹Ž–‡”‡†Ǥ

Andrew Brown declares that “there

are some exciting releases planned for

ʹͲʹͲǡƒ†–Š‡›™‹ŽŽ†‡β‹‹–‡Ž›„‡™‘”–Š

waiting for!”

This page,

clockwise from top:

Casks waiting to be

filled; More casks;

An outbuilding on

the site.

038 - 042 - Bunnahabhain-WM 167 .indd 42 09 / 04 / 2020 09 : 59