Bunnahabhain Distillery, Scotland     founded: 1881 | active
For more detailed mapping of the distilleries in the area from our whisky map page, use this link.

It starts with a little walk by the seaside, with your dog getting wet enough to earn the moniker, 'salty sea dog' whilst you chow down on a rollmop with some salt and seaweed. Icelandic wood then shifts us towards white wine vinegar, white pepper and cloves, with basil sitting out there on its herby lonesome (who incidentally sounds like a 50s blues singer). Things get a bit esoteric with the suggestions of physalic compote and new socks, but then come straight down to earth again with, simply, 'yummy'. Things finish off with the childish illness combo of banana and medicinal, before Milo before any milk is added brings us to a final conclusion.

Considering how rarely these kind of tastes come up, it's surprising to see rice vinegar, rice wine AND sushi prep all together. It's light, clean and with a nondescript sweetness - turning into fruitier offerings: watermelon, cumquats and the confusing combo of weak Ribena and fruity fruit juice. There's also a bit of the basil remaining from the nose, whislt the seaside elements have turned into smoked salt and licorice.

Not sure what happened, but the finishes somewhat belie the interest on the palate: we've now got pine sap and alcohol, soot and 5am clubbing regret. And if that wasn't bad enough, we finish with a nice batch of horse manure.

It has a good vibe for a non cask strength whisky, summed up somehow as Italian shoes, liquorice & Saké.