Scotland, Isle of Islay. Distillery operational. Owner: Burn Stewart Distillers – Distell Group

Developed by the Highland Distilleries company in the late 19th century, before joining the Edrington group (Macallan, Glenrothes, Highland Park, Tamdhu) in the 20th century, Bunnahabhain was, until the early 2000s, only Islay's second malt to opt for an unpeated profile. A major supplier for blends (over 90% of production) such as Black Bottle, Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark and Scottish Leader, Bunnahabhain made a name for itself in 2002 with the releases of a magnificent 1968 vintage named Auld Acquaintance, a 1966 Feis Isle, a 1980 single cask and a black label 34 year old. It was a prosperous year for a distillery which until then had only a single expression, Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old, presented in a stocky green bottle and strongly influenced by its sherry cask maturation. Since being bought in 2003 by Burns Stewart Distillers (Distell group), Bunnahabhain has released numerous limited editions and finally made the most of its potential.

A whisky produced at the Bunnahabhain distillery on the Isle of Islay in Scotland, bottled in 2018 after 20 years of maturation, including two years in a Palo Cortado cask, a rare sherry somewhere between an Amontillado and an Oloroso. After ageing under flor, Palo Cortado, which starts off as a Fino, takes on a unique aromatic profile. The cellar master then crosses the Fino mark (palo) etched in chalk on the cask with a horizontal line, creating a Palo Cortado. Aged in a seaside vault, this Bunnahabhain is an homage to the island’’s seafaring tradition and its history of trade with Spain. Bottle 381 of 1,620.