Bunnahabhain: A Song of Praise to Islay.
Bunnahabhain is an island kid through and through. Although most Bunnahabhain single malts are little or not at all smoky, the distillery on the north-east coast of the island is at the heart of Islay whisky. The "unpronoucable malt", as Bunnahabhain once jokingly called itself, produces both smoky and unsmoky Scotch whisky. And hardly any other whisky is so passionate about its home. The Bunnahabhain labels once quoted the song "Westering Home". Its text goes like this:
"Westering home, and a song in the air,
Light in the eye, and it's goodbye to care;
Laughter o'love, and a welcoming there;
Isle of my heart, my own one!
Tell me o'lands o' the Orient gay!
Speak o' the riches and joys o' Cathay!
Eh, but it's grand to be wakin' ilk day
To find yourself nearer to Isla.
Where are the folk like the folk o'the west?
Canty and Couthy, and kindly, the best;
There I would hie me, and there I would rest
At hame wi' my ain folk in Isla."
What is the correct way to pronounce Bunnahabhain? Kind of like the combination of Bunna and the word heaven. Kind of fitting, right?
What does Bunnahabhain mean? The translation for Bunnahabhain is: mouth of the river.
Where is Bunnahabhain? Bunnahabhain Distillery is located directly on the coast on the north east coast of Islay.
3 reasons to love Bunnahabhain
1) Because North Islay also has its charms.
2) Because peat isn't everything.
3) Because home is simply the most beautiful place.
What does Bunnahabhain whisky taste like?
Next to Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain is the second rather atypical Islay malt that also produces non-smoky single malt whisky. The standards lack the powerful note of peat, the malt is fine and soft, with delicate spice and a fresh breeze of sea air. However, there are also smoky Bunnahabhain whiskys such as Bunnahabhain Cruach-Mhòna, Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dhà or the Bunnahabhain Mòine.
How Aberlour Single Malt is made
Most of today's beautiful stone buildings, where Aberlour whisky is made, were built in 1892. The distillery is just a stone's throw from the River Spey, which owes its name to the legendary Speyside whisky region. However, the name Aberlour comes from the small river of the Lour. Literally translated, Aberlour means "mouth of the Lour", where the distillery is located. The source of Aberlour's clear water, St. Drozdan's Well, is said to have healing magic powers. Once you've visited the nearby Linn Falls, you too will believe it. Because this magically beautiful little waterfall once served as a place of worship for Celts and Druids. The Lour flows past the Standing Stones of Fairy Hill. Who wouldn't want this magical water in their whisky?
The water of the Lour River is used for the cooling systems of the stills. However, this returns untouched back into the river, because only pure spring water goes into the whisky itself. Fermentation takes place in six large stainless steel washbacks. Today, Aberlour distills the new make for the single malt whisky on four onion-shaped pot stills. The copper stills have no bulges. Aberlour Single Malt matures in both ex-bourbon casks and ex-sherry casks. The malty, fruity spirit works well with both American and European oak. In France, Aberlour is one of the best-selling malt whiskys. Aberlour Single Malt is also used in some blends, as in the Scotch Clan Campbell.
A bit of Bunnahabhain history
Bunnahabhain was founded in 1881 as Islay's northernmost distillery by William Robertson (Robertson & Baxter) and brothers James & William Greenless (owners of Islay Distillers Company Ltd.). Only then did the small town of the same name gradually develop around the distillery. The first distillate ran from the stills in 1883. The distillery was closed from 1930 to 1937, and even later there were periods in which production was only sporadic or not at all. In 1963 an additional wash and spirit still was added. Until 2003, Bunnahabhain was owned by the Highland Distillers and was repeatedly threatened with closure. In 2003 the distillery was finally sold to Burn Stewart. Since then, numerous interesting bottlings have appeared, and Bunnahabhain's future seems secure.
Our Bunnahabhain recommendations
The Bunnahabhain 12 year old is one of the best standard bottlings in Scotch Whisky. With the flagship of the distillery you are doing everything right. If you ever get the opportunity to taste the Bunnahabhain 18 year old, we advise you to grab it here too. An enormously rich malt, full of spice, sweetness and sea air. An absolute dream for every whisky fan! No wonder it was voted best Islay malt in its age group in 2014.
Facts & Figures about Bunnahabhain
Address: Port Askaig, Isle of Islay, Argyll , PA46 7RP
Founded: 1881 by William Robertson, James & William Greenless
Owner: Burn Stewart Distillers Ltd.
Status: active
Region: Islay Whisky
Whiskey Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Smoke Level: Unpeated & heavily peated
Malt: 35% peated (35-45 ppm) / 65% unpeated
Water: Margadale River
Mashtun: 12.5 tons
Washbacks: 6, Douglas Spruce
Fermentation: 55 - 110 hours
Stills: 2 wash stills (35,386 l), 2 spirit stills (15,546 l)
Capacity: approx. 2,700,000 liters annually
Visitor Centre: Yes
Telephone: +44 (0)14 96 / 84 06 46
Website: www.bunnahabhain.com
Directions to the Bunnahabhain Distillery
Bildnachweis / Bildquelle: Leon Schuster, Malt Mariners
