Whisky: Bunnahabhain 30 Year (1987), Hunter Laing Old & Rare

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 48.4%

Cask: Sherry Butt

Age: 30 Years (Distilled Dec. 1987, Bottled Dec. 2017)

Nose: Rock salt and heather, driftwood, dried beach grass, subtle preserved orange rind and vanilla bean pods.

Palate: Medium to light body with rich notes of Manuka honey, malted chocolate candies, cocoa powder, beach grass, subtle maritime air, earth-stone, and more honey at the end.

Finish: Medium to long, sometimes bitter, dried grass, salt, honey.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Bonbons on the Beach

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was pleasantly coastal and restrained with salty maritime air, waving fields of dry beach grass, driftwood, and heather. Occasional notions of cream arrived with subtle light-roasted coffee, preserved orange rind, and vanilla bean pods. Medium to light-bodied, the flavor profile punched well above what the mouthfeel led me to expect. Manuka honey, rich malted milk balls, and chocolate malt shakes arrived with a dusting of cocoa powder and hints of caramel. Beach grass and a subtle salty breeze brought me back to the seashore with dissolved minerals and sandstone. An underlying sweetness came through more intensely on the back end with clover honey and hints of lemony citrus. The finish was medium to long with occasional bitter notes of dried grass, salt, and honey.

My wife thought something about the whisky reminded her of a dog with notes at the end, which she described as soapy. If that sounds a bit unpleasant, she found that subtle funk reasonably pleasant and gave the whisky a 7/10. I expected something more scathing after hearing her tasting notes. While I did not note soap, I could see where she was coming from. Some of the herbal elements, cream, and citrus at the end could definitely come off as a tad soapy.

Overall, I found this to be pleasant and well-integrated. I wish the finish were longer; while it occasionally lingered, it was often brief. It was also not nearly as deep and complex as you might want from something that spent three decades in the cask. Altogether, while I would not seek this out, I suspect Bunna-philes would enjoy it more, and I would happily accept a pour if someone offered.

Image Credit: The Whisky Exchange