SHARE BUNNAHABHAIN THIS FESTIVE SEASON

If you think about it, the Bunnahabhain 12 year old single malt, produced on the world-famous Isle of Islay situated off the west coast of Scotland, has spent 12 years in a cask, quietly maturing and developing its flavours and characteristics in a warehouse built in 1881. With this in mind and the numerous international gold medals it has garnered over the years, you can’t go wrong by sharing this elegantly crafted single malt this festive season with someone you admire and respect.

Bunnahabhain (pronounced Bū-na-ha-venn) means mouth of the river in Scots Gaelic and refers to the Margadale River that flows close by. Founded in 1881, the distillery lies on the north-eastern tip of Islay and the tiny village of Bunnahabhain that overlooks the Sound of Islay grew up around it.

The sea influence and free flowing mountain spring water, makes it an idyllic place for whisky distillation. Bunnahabhain is the only single malt producer on Islay using a natural spring water source, piping their water from the springs of the Margadale River.

Known as the gentle taste of Islay, the Bunnahabhain 12-, 18- and 25-year olds are, unlike other single malts from Islay, crafted from unpeated malted barley and pure spring water that flows freely underground, untainted by the peaty moorlands. The whiskies are created by master distiller Ian MacMillan and are all un-chillfiltered, returning to the whisky-making tradition of Bunnahabhain’s distillers many years ago.

According to MacMillan, by un-chillfiltering the whisky nothing is taken away or added and the whisky retains all of its depth of flavour, aromas, colours and character. This allows the gentle, subtle notes of the malt to come through, providing a purer taste, nose and appearance.

“The process of chillfiltering removes some of the oily-fatty compounds produced during distillation or extracted during maturation. It prevents the whisky, when in the bottle or when served, from becoming slightly hazy when chilled. Several whisky experts believe chill-filtration removes some of the flavour and body from the whisky while with un-chillfiltering it retains the maximum depth of flavour and character.”

The Bunnahabahain 12 year old is packaged in a gift box and available from fine liquor outlets, retailing for about *R490 per bottle.

*South African Rand