Islay is known for its muscular peat bombs, but there’s an amazing variety of expressions in the eight distilleries on this far-flung Hebridean isle. Bunnahabhain uses malt with a modest 3 ppm (that’s parts per million, the measurement used for phenol levels imparted by peat smoke distilleries like Ardbeg and Bruichladdich use up to 50 and 80 ppm respectively).
Bunnahabhain’s reputation as the most approachable Islay-made brand doesn’t quite do it justice. The distillers make a spectrum of jaw-droppingly delicious whiskies, and the 18-year-old is one of my favourite single malts. Tastes like nutty toffee dipped in the sea off some Elysian wharf.
It’s expensive but worth it, so hunt down a dram if you can’t justify the entire bottle.
Price 700 ml/$179.95
Availability Vintages 247049
