Bunnahabhain 39 1976 (Cadenheads Small Batch)
Region: Islay
ABV: 49.4%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Blend of 3 Sherry Butts
Colour: Amber
Nose: Oak, floral, honey, raisins, port, stewed plum, orange peel, nuts, leather, cocoa, tobacco
Palate: Oak, oak tannins, orange peel, leather, plum, mineral, pepper, chili pepper, black tea
Finish: Medium+ finish, mineral, musty, oak, brown sugar
Score: 87/100
Tasted blind. Initially thought this was a 20-25 year old, sherry cask, Highland single malt. I thought this was definitely old, but didn’t think it was that old.
There is a deal of oak here, along with nice floral, honey aspects on the nose, with a strong backbone of sweet stewed plums, port-like note, orange peels, tobacco, leather, all the nice “old sherry” note. The palate is similar to the nose; Punchy and bold, with an additional kick of drying oak tannins, spice, black tea, and mineral note, which I would have hoped it was less oaky on the palate.
This is a really bold single male from Bunnahabhain, the oldest I have ever tried. I would have rated this higher, if the oak tannins was a bit more balanced. I would call this a bourbon-lover whisky, due to the huge oak influence throughout. Definitely worth a try if you are into these bold notes.