2009 Bunnahabhain 14 Year Old “Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Cask #18600103 2nd Fill Sherry Hogshead

Nonchillfiltered Cask Strength Highlands Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($149.99)

“This is a singular cask that offers so much to the drinker in a single bottle. A classic Islay malt that is not to be missed.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer

Is there any distillery in Scotland bringing us more consistently amazing hits than Bunna? We can’t think of one right now. After a series of truly stunning casks in 2023, the new year starts with a bang in the form of this 14-year-old refill sherry hoggie from the Islay icon. With unparalleled complexity from the first nose all the way through the finish, it belongs on the short list of any serious Scotch afinicionado, no matter what your stylistic preferences are.

K&L Exclusive: An Islay Icon Hits a Grand Slam

2009 Bunnahabhain 14 Year Old “Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Cask #18600103 2nd Fill Sherry Hogshead Nonchillfiltered Cask Strength Highlands Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

($149.99)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: January 09, 2024

While I love a sherry bomb if I’m in the right mood or a first-fill bourbon cask when I want something punchy yet sweet, it is the classic, refill sherry hogshead that has my true heart. When you get an active one such as this impeccable Bunna cask, it’s irresistible. Bunnahabhain’s soft peat smoke and succulent fruits meld perfectly with the raisin and berry compote and nuttiness of the pristine sherry barrel. The individual salt notes, sea spray from the whisky, salt rocks from the sherry, blend in perfect harmony to support the entire profile. Golden straw at the edges and deep red copper in the core, the color is beautiful. The aromas start with grilled peaches and move into expressed citrus oil and a small sugar cane grass fire. Tempering dark chocolate and lemon icing work together in unexpected ways. Raw peat, freshly cut, brings an earthiness that binds to the sweet spices of the barrel—nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, and cracked pepper of the oak itself. This is a dram that is hard to move past the nose because it’s so intriguing. When you do convince yourself to taste it, the tempest rages. You feel wrapped in a dizzying array of flavors. Sweet, salty, fruity, nutty, smoky, earthy, herbal, it has it all. Chocolate-dipped, dark cherries topped with fleur de sel. Maple glazed almonds. Abba-zaba candy. Unlit cigar, fresh from the humidor. It’s a trip in every sip. At 55.3% ABV, it is the epitome of easy drinking. With a few drops of water more herbal notes are released on the nose, but the palate leans into the sweet nuts, more creamy peanut butter than herbal walnut or almond. The smoke fades more into a background cloak rather than an upfront screen. This is a singular cask that offers so much to the drinker in a single bottle. A classic Islay malt that is not to be missed.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA