I manage to secure my preferred parking spot in between Bunnahabhain and Ardnahoe [WLP], allowing me to walk to and from the distillery without relying on the shuttle bus – a wait of more than an hour on the way out!
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The even more scenic parking option on top of a windy hill that I occupied in 2018 [WLP] had led to handbrake-failure anxiety [see pic below].
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The walk down the road to the distillery is rather magical.
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There was a totally different layout and organisational structure to this year’s Bunnahabhain Open Day. With the old courtyard now redundant, this year’s festivities centred around the new visitor’s centre and carpark. Gone was the ad hoc pencil & paper ticket system, events now sold [out] online.
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And the Feis Ile bottlings? This year, Bunnahabhain offered a 3-tier price-point selection. At the top echelon, a 30yo calvados-finished release. This sold out around midday and was replaced by a 31yo oloroso offering [£750]. I haven’t enough interest to say any more about the rest although some of the releases remain available online at Bunnahabhain. What I will say is, whilst the prices go up, the rewards diminish. I hear the tastings weren’t a patch on 2018s Warehouse No.9 event [WLP] or Kirsty’s shindig – a tasting people still talk about to this day.
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For festive pours, like Laphroaig [WLP], Bunnahabhain went with a dram voucher. Note, the ‘GENTS’ – to be found between the Filling Store and Pier! Sounds about right.
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And what festival delights are on offer to those who have travelled all the way to the distillery? The standard 12yo, the sherried Stiureadair, and the peated Toiteach – so core range. Hey ho!
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Bunnahabhain 12yo [2022] Ob. 46.3% WB84.94[1408] WF85 ralfy(2020)88 WLP182 WLP285
I’m trying Stuart’s ‘back of the palate’ tasting technique [WLP], and I can tell you, I like it.
- N: Raisins, chocolate, casks.
- T: More raisins, something of a waxy/greasy chew and yet a soft dryness also.
- F: Manages to resist becoming simply rubbery or syrupy. Is this more vegetal greasy-waxiness the new seasoned sherry style of 2022? I do hope so.
- C: I like the 12, always have. Today I find it a tad more simplistic than when I last tried it in the spring, a little more painting by numbers today but still an excellent prospect with regards to quality and price for an available & affordable integrity bottling.
Scores 84 [tasted outside] points
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Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair [2022] Ob. 46.3% WB81.33[708] WF85
- N: With first & second-fill sherry casks credited, we pick up on waxy bananas, a grape-tannic fruitiness, something of new products,… silicone perhaps?
- T: Almost plastic-y arrival,… and grapey. There certainly seems to be a move away from the direct sherry syrup profile so utterly predominant a few years ago. With a swift enough delivery, we’ve more of this vegetal greasiness – vegetal soft ice cream, liquorice, cinnamon bubblegum,…
- F: The final chapter talks of a salty maltiness with a repeat of that silicone note. With more of the sherry influence comes Milk of Magnesia and soft [white bread] flour before a lingering greasy [pinch of spiciness]. Decent conclusion.
- C: I found this to be the best of today’s trio – akin, quality-wise, to Arran 10, Aberlour 12 [many other examples].
Scores 85 [tasted outside] points
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Bunnahabhain Toiteach [2022] Ob. 46% WB82.61[466]
Apparently, it’s pronounced [To[c]h-chach]. Does that help? I last tried Toiteach at a memorable Whisky Squad and gave it 88 points, but that was scored in more unusual circumstances and was back in 2017.
- N: Middle-of-the-road peatiness,.. carb/savoury-sweet umami vibes, salty clay,…
- T: Savoury-dry sour acidity into a floury quality,… Strange, as I’d expected this to be a sweeter affair from the nose.
- F: Peated wash-like, it becomes more [and more] basic with time.
- C: Tasting of its underlying ingredients is a positive attribute in many ways.
Scores 84 [tasted outside] points
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From the idiosyncratic and insular view of a Whisky Loving Pianist, whilst Bunnahabhain’s 2022 Open Day was a tad underwhelming, one couldn’t fail to spot the positive evolution at the Distell-owned distillery – and it’s not just the makeover, though that and the weather certainly help.
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On the one hand, the reward for coming all this way [at this boom time for whisky producers] amounted to available-everywhere core range pours, over-priced ‘exclusive’ festival bottles, and limited sold-out masterclasses. On the other hand, the new visitor-centric developments encouraged a socially inviting experience and at least the drams were free. Yes, free drams at Bunnahabhain! I still can’t understand why the distilleries won’t ‘roll out the barrel’ for a one-off non-fungible Open Day-only treat, but at least we now know it can be done [WLP], on Islay.
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Furthermore, it was great to see local people, young and old, at the Feis. Many peeps who worked at the distillery had brought their mates and families, making for a warm community feel. Thank you to the Bunnahabhain team for a good day out.
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Tomorrow is the last day of Feis Ile which can mean only one thing – Ardbeg Day, an event that is unlikely to disappoint.
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