Bunnahabhain 2009 First Fill Sherry Butt - 66.7%. - AD Rattray
Product details
Distillery Region: Islay
Date Bottled: 23.09.2021
Cask Type: 1st Fill Sherry Butt
No. of Bottles: 555
Cask Number: 900037
Age: 12 Years Old
Date Distilled: 02.03.2009
Strength: 66.7% alc./vol.
Cask Notes
Wow. Dried fruit and spice from twelve years in 1st fill Spanish Oak works beautifully in tandem with the nutty character of the spirit.
Colour: Red walnut.
Nose: Salted toffee, fruit cake, cashew, leather and orange peel.
Palate: Dark chocolate, cranberry, ginger and hazelnut.
Finish: Warm baking spices enveloped by raisin and rich oak.
Appearance: Auburn, forms a thin line which beads quickly before falling as very slow, thin legs.
Nose: Rich Dundee fruit cake, heavy on the dried fruit and almonds, caramel toffee, candied orange peel in dark chocolate and a little coastal salt.
Palate: The high abv is more noticeable than on the nose. Rich fruit cake full of booze soaked raisins, sultanas and chopped nuts. Ginger and and orange peel slices enrobed in dark chocolate, old oak furniture and a hit of chilli heat. A little water reduces the heat, bringing out more dark fruit and berry jam but increases the nutty oak.
Finish: Dried fruit, dark berries and cinnamon linger on the palate.
Summary: It’s big, bold and beautiful. Although colour should never be taken as a guarantee of quality, this looks glorious in the glass. The nose is spectacular even at such an elevated abv. On the palate it’s rich, complex and full of typical Sherry notes although the heat at this strength can be a little too much. For me, this whisky really benefits from the addition of a little water, the reduction in that chilli spice allows more red berry notes to come through although it also brings out a little more of the oak.
Part of the AD Rattray Cask Collection, this is currently priced at £130. Normally that would immediately put it outside my price range but in fairness it’s not unusually high for a single cask, high abv, unchillfiltered and natural colour whisky in the current market. The quality of this whisky is such that I’m seriously tempted to abandon my normal rules and buy a bottle, although this would definitely be one of those whiskies that only comes out when I feel like treating myself to something special.
If you would like more information on AD Rattray and their range of whiskies, please visit the company website.
