A Singular Peated Scotch from a K&L Exclusive Cask – Scotch Whisky News
A Singular Peated Scotch from a K&L Exclusive Cask
2014 Bunnahabhain Staoisha Heavily Peated 6 Year Old “Signatory K&L Exclusive” Dechar/Rechar Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($79.99)
“These young Staoisha malts are an absolute revelation … This stuff is just incredible]y well made and delicious.” — David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer
One of our most popular exclusive casks of last year was the utterly unique 4-year-old Bunnahabhain peated malt from our friends at Signatory. A winning combination of an incredible price, limited availability, and a singular profile thanks to the innovative ageing method made for a whisky that Scotch aficionados couldn’t get enough of. Now Signatory has come through once again, this time with a 6-year-old cask of the same outstanding juice that shows deeper complexity from the extra two years in the dechar/rechar hogshead (see below for more details on this barrel reconditioning method). Bunnahabhain crafts a renowned unpeated whisky, but they love to flex their prowess with peat through these impeccable Staoisha bottlings. Spirits buyer Andrew Whiteley says, “this 6-year-old malt is a big, intense peater … It’s pretty, sweet, and just smoky enough. It’s also a steal of a price.” This an unequivocal must-have for fans of cutting edge Scotch, and given how well its predecessor performed, we fully expect this cask to sell out in short order. Collectors and enthusiasts of all stripes will want to get on board while they can, especially if they missed its younger sibling the last time around.
K&L Notes: Bunnahabhain sits on the northern shores of Islay and has made a famously unpeated Islay malt in that remote location since 1881. Beginning in the 1990s, Bunnah began to experiment with varying levels of peat and has sold peated Scotch under a number of different names since then. In the last five years or so, we’ve seen several casks on the independent market trading under the Staoisha name for Bunnahabhain’s heavily peated offering. These extraordinary casks taste absolutely fabulous when they are very young, and they are just getting better and better with more age. Now at six and a half years of age, this cask was matured in a dechar/rechar hogshead. This unique process involves scraping a cask to expose new oak and then recharring the wood to seal it and caramelize the sugars. These whiskies drink a bit like first-fill bourbon casks due to the fresh char, but the most robust tannins have already been removed from the cask’s first use. The result is a best-of-both-worlds scenario that marries with heavy peat just perfectly. Cask No 10568, 59.4% ABV.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 03, 2021
Yielding just 198 bottles, this cask is moving quickly, even before we write up the whisky. Previous Signatory bottles of Staoisha have won many fans who eagerly await the next chance to add to their collection. Much older than previous bottlings, but still in the youthful stage, this 6-year-old malt is a big intense peater. It doesn’t feel quite as smoky as the last cask, but more peaty, with the focus more on the wet, salty, earthy nose. The palate is massive, briny, and a little dank. The fruit is really spectacular, almost like a liquid version of a salted caramel candied apple. It’s pretty, sweet, and just smoky enough. It’s also a steal of a price. Don’t blink or it’ll be gone, and we likely won’t see another for at least a year.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 27, 2021
These young Staoisha malts are an absolute revelation. Not only are these big boy peaters out of the norm for Bunnah, but the dechar/re-char thing is a real treat. For those who remember, the last barrel was wildly delicious at four years old, and with an extra two years in cask, it’s achieved an insane level of complexity. Let’s have a taste. The color is deep gold. Pungent and wild with an incredible saline note balanced by sweet oaky depth and an almost chocolaty note. On the palate, it’s got incredible weight and a gorgeous, earthy, coastal character. Wild stone fruit, rich, sweet spice and a lengthy, ashy finish. This stuff is just incredibly well made and delicious.
