Bunnahabhain Scotch Whisky

The history and innovations of Bunnahabhain

Bunnahabhain Distillery is located in the quiet, but beautiful, north-east corner of the inner-Hebridean island of Islay off the west coast of Scotland. A stunning island home to many (and increasing) number of distilleries. Islay single malts are known usually to be heavily peated, however, Bunnahabhain is known more for its unpeated whiskies than its peated ones. A true gem of a distillery.

The distillery was founded in 1881 by William Robertson and the Greenless brothers, Willliam and James. The group established the Islay Distillers Company to not just build a distillery, but to establish a complete village, with roads, a pier, houses and halls. A sign of the incredible optimism in the Scotch whisky industry at the time.

Since Spring 2022 the distillery has been operating its own steam plant to heat the stills via burning a combination of wood and dried draff. This has resulted in Bunnahabhain becoming the first distillery on Islay to reach a net-zero distillation process. The plant was built at a huge cost of £6.5M.

In 2022, the distillery split the operations between 45% peated runs and 55% unpeated to a total of just above 3 million litres of spirit. The peating level itself has been lifted slightly in recent times to a phenol specification of 35 ppm.

Explore our curated, hand-picked range

At Select Scotch Whisky, we pride ourselves on hand-picking a diverse range of Bunnahabhain expressions, ensuring that each whisky enthusiast, from novices to connoisseurs, can find a dram that resonates with their palate. Whether you're drawn to the gentle character of the Bunnahabhain 12-year-old, with its rich fruit and nut notes, or the profound depth and complexity of the 30-year-old, peat-infused expressions, our collection is designed to cater to your discerning tastes.

Expand your collection with Select Scotch Whisky today

Add something new to your collection with our exquisite range of Bunnahabhain Scotch Whisky. Each bottle tells a story of tradition, craftsmanship and the unwavering pursuit of quality.

Browse our user-friendly website to learn more about our collection of Bunnahabhain and seamlessly place your order. Enjoy free Australia-wide shipping for purchases over $229 and a range of secure payment options, including major credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal.

For more insights into the world of Bunnahabhain whiskies, visit our news page, or feel free to contact us with any inquiries about our curated whisky selection.

FAQs

What distinguishes Bunnahabhain Scotch Whisky from other Islay whiskies in terms of flavour profile?

Bunnahabhain Scotch Whisky is distinguished from other Islay whiskies primarily by its generally milder peat profile and a richer complexity of flavours. While Islay is renowned for its heavily peated whiskies, Bunnahabhain takes a different path, offering whiskies that are often less peated, allowing a broader range of flavours to come forward. This creates a distinctive flavour profile that emphasises fruitiness, nuttiness and a subtle maritime saltiness, without the intense peat smoke found in many of its Islay counterparts.

What types of casks are commonly used for maturing Bunnahabhain whisky, and how does it affect the final product?

Bunnahabhain Scotch Whisky is matured in a variety of cask types, including ex-bourbon, sherry and wine casks. The use of ex-bourbon casks imparts classic vanilla and light spice notes, while sherry casks contribute richer flavours of dried fruits, chocolate and nuts. Wine casks, less commonly used but equally impactful, can add unique fruit-forward notes and additional layers of complexity. The choice of cask affects the whisky's final flavour profile, with each type of wood imparting its characteristics.

Can you describe the peating process used in Bunnahabhain whisky and its impact on taste?

The peating process involves drying malted barley using peat smoke, which imparts a smoky flavour to the grain. Unlike many Islay distilleries that heavily peat their barley, Bunnahabhain uses a lighter peating process for most of its expressions, resulting in a more subtle peat influence. This approach allows the whisky to maintain a complex flavour profile that balances the gentle smokiness with the distillery's characteristic notes of fruit, nuts and maritime nuances. However, Bunnahabhain does produce some expressions with a higher level of peat, catering to those who enjoy a more traditional Islay peat profile.