Bunnahabhain 17 Year Sauternes Cask Finish (Fèis Ìle 2019)

Returning to my collection of Bunnahabhain samples, this is one of two I have from the 2019 Feis Ile festival releases. It's an unpeated Bunnahabhain aged initially for 12 years in ex-bourbon casks, then finished for five years in Sauternes wine hogsheads. This yielded 1,118 bottles at a 54.2% ABV, with an initial price of 195 pounds. The liquid has a distinct orange hue, a color I don't recall seeing in a whisky before. The nose is somewhat restrained but opens up with time and a splash of water to reveal sweet fruity notes in the canned fruit range. The palate is similar: succulent stone fruits, sweet but not excessively so. There's a subtle hint of pleasant funk on the finish, but it's fleeting. And that's essentially it. It's pleasant but not particularly engaging, and I found myself wishing for some smoke to enhance the complexity. I'm aware this combination can work, as I have two delightful Springbank Society bottles that were matured in Sauternes for nine years. Hopefully, Bunnahabhain will release a Moine version someday. For now, this is worth sampling if you have the opportunity, but I wouldn't go out of my way to acquire a bottle, even at its original retail price.

Rich and delightful. Nose: Dried 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 aroma and a palate with honeyed notes. From a Scotch Club gathering at Doug's place.