Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair
Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair was created as a tribute to the sea and sailors, because without the sea and without a ship it is almost impossible to get from the island to the mainland. So we expect something very maritime.As the first NAS (No Age Statement) Whisky from Bunnahabhain, the Stiuireadair was chosen as the entry point. Matured in first- and second-fill sherry casks, we would not be surprised if there was a strong resemblance to the Bunnahabhain 12 Years.
The panel
Mean 80.0 · spread 0
Value for money 5/5
- Distillery
- Bunnahabhain
- Type
- Single Malt
- Region
- Isle of Islay
- Country
- Scotland
- Strength
- 46.3% ABV
- Character
- spicy
Tasting
Nose
Sweet, really sweet, really really sweet. We think of prunes and buttered speculoos. Behind the dried fruit hides an interesting variety of aromas. Once the nose has become accustomed to the dark dried fruit, vanilla and caramel notes resonate and later the salty-maritime character also appears.
Palate
"There greets the sea: as if you gargled a good sip of seawater." Sweet on the lips, salty on the palate we again have dried fruit and strong nutty aromas. Compared to the nose, the ratio is exactly reversed. The salty-maritime clearly predominates and the sherry flavors remain in the background. There is also a hint of nutty chocolate and dried apricot.
Finish
The long finish is very dry. A slight fruitiness remains and is again accompanied by a salty feeling.
Verdicts
Marcel
This Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair is a genuine little adventure for the senses – sweet, salty, with a good dose of character that’s a real joy. For anyone looking for a maritime, youthful whisky with a charming sherry note, this is a bullseye at a fair price. A dram that leaves you wanting more and truly captures the soul of the island.
Sascha
The Stiuireadair impresses with its well-balanced interplay between sweet sherry notes and a clear, salty maritime profile, offering surprisingly good structure for a NAS whisky. The maturation in first- and second-fill sherry casks is evident in its complex aroma, even if it lacks some of the depth found in older vintages. Overall, a technically solid composition with excellent value for money.
What it is worth
We do not yet hold bottle-level auction results — that sits behind Whisky Hunter’s authenticated feed. What follows is the market for Bunnahabhain as a whole, which sets the weather for this bottling without pricing it.
Latest mean bid £149 across 360 lots · 2024-08