BUNNAHABHAIN 1988 VINTAGE MARSALA FINISH

This marks my second experience with a Bunnahabhain finished in casks that previously held fortified Marsala wine. However, while the earlier one was bottled after 13 years, this expression was distilled 30 years prior, dating back to the era of the Thatcher administration. The younger version, a peated malt I rated 4.0, offered good value at its original $80 price. This current, unpeated version costs 450 pounds per bottle. Despite an outturn of only 1,260 bottles, it remains available directly from the distillery. My portion from a shared bottle presented a pleasingly musty aroma with hints of white grapes and cola. The initial sip is sweet and oily, with dried apricots appearing among the flavors, similar to the younger bottling. It finishes long and dry, rich in tannins, with a pleasant funky aftertaste. It's very good, but not comparable to the whisky I will discuss for tasting #500: Johnnie Walker Red Label.

Abundant berries and cream. Nose: Toffee, Raspberry Cheesecake, Strawberries and Cream, Roses, Turkish Delights, White Chocolate, Honey Palate: Smoke, Dark Chocolate, Dates, Figs, Honey, Grapefruit, Prunes, Anise, Christmas Cakes, Licorice, Walnuts, Nutella Finish: Raspberries, Milk Chocolate, Raisins, Salted Toffee, Dates, Almonds, Nutmeg