Adelphi Selection Bunnahabhain 24 Year Single Malt

Adelphi Selections, based in Ardnamurchan, Argyll, in the Scottish Highlands, sources and bottles an exclusive collection of super-premium single-malt, single-cask Scotch whiskies from the most respected distilleries in Scotland. The Adelphi Nosing Team is chaired by world-renowned whisky expert Charles Maclean. On average, one of every 40 barrel samples tasted is selected for bottling under the Adelphi Selections label. Each selection is made by judging the unique characteristics bestowed by individual casks, resulting in rare bottlings that represent a completely unique and authentic representation of a given distillery and a given cask.

A rich caramel-gold color, this 2014 bottling from the Bunnahabhain distillery, is 1989 juice aged for 24 years and bottled at cask strength, which is 45% ABV in this case. Matured in refill American Oak ex-Bourbon hogshead, this has the color and mousse of vintage champage. A light nose, slightly damp and musty like an old maturation warehouse, or a fishing hut with weathered hemp ropes and fishing nets. Initially minerallic, then the fruity notes appear: nougat with candied peel, possibly tangerine with hints of lime juice. 

A very maritime character, as you would expect, with whiffs of salty rock pools, slaked lime and seaweed. The finish is surprisingly smoky for such a mellow age, and from a distillery that historically did not use much peat smoke in the malting process.

Cask No. 5789 – 1 of 212 bottles!