Claxton's The Single Cask - Bunnahabhain Staoisha 2013 - 6 Years Old

This is the third review in a five-part series covering a private tasting of Independent Bottlers from my local shop. Our personal line-up: 1. Càrn Mòr - Strictly Limited - Benrinnes 10 Year Old 2009 2. Hunter Laing - Talisker 2008 - 9 Year Old Old Malt Cask 3. Claxton's The Single Cask - Bunnahabhain 2013 - Staoisha - 6 Years Old 4. Caol Ila 5-Year-Old 2009 - Hepburn's Choice (Langside) 5. Ardnamurchan Spirit 2019 AD Although I have tried many Independent Bottlings by now, Claxton’s was completely new to me. A friend explained that the ‘Staoisha’ would offer a very different Bunna experience, even more so than the Sherry-influenced Talisker I tasted. While I had tried several peated Bunna’s before, the friend assured me I’d be surprised, suggesting this Claxton’s bottling was much more peated. Comparing it to the ‘Moine,’ for instance, would be inadequate. A companion agreed, and we were soon greeted by a potent yet wonderfully earthy peat smoke, with hints of BBQ. The palate arrives with abundant pleasant smoke, salt, and tropical fruits. Truly delightful. The finish remained for an extended period, revealing a meaty smokiness with added sea salt. This Claxton’s Bunnahabhain was perfectly balanced and packed with flavor. The high ABV of 58.20% was not apparent at all. Both my companion and I were very pleased with this one. Could one of the last two be even better? To continue reading, the other reviews will be available shortly. To discover the winner (the bottle we purchased), see the final review (Ardnamurchan).

A friend's 2022 bottling (it was the 8-year-old St. Julien Red Wine).