Est. 1881 • Sound of Islay, Scotland

Bunnahabhain

"Islay's gentle malt"

Bunnahabhain sits on the north-east shore of Islay, at the mouth of the Margadale river looking across the Sound of Islay to Jura. It has made whisky here since 1881, and it goes against the island grain: most of the range is largely unpeated, so the smoke that defines its neighbours steps back and lets a softer, maritime character come through. Expect sea salt, nuts, dried fruit and a rounded sherried sweetness, from the everyday 12 Year Old up to the aged 18 and 25.

1881

Founded

Islay

Region

Largely unpeated

House Style

Maritime

Character

The Gentle Side of Islay

Why Bunnahabhain does not taste like its smoky neighbours

Bunnahabhain was built in 1881 on a remote stretch of Islay's north-east coast, at the mouth of the Margadale river on the Sound of Islay. The name is Gaelic for "mouth of the river", and the sea is never far from the whisky. Salt, nuts and a rounded maritime character run through the range.

What sets it apart is peat, or the lack of it. Most Islay distilleries lean hard on peated malt for their trademark smoke. Bunnahabhain built its reputation on the opposite, drawing spring water piped to the site to keep its core whiskies largely unpeated. The result is softer and more approachable than the island's heavyweights, which is why the 12 Year Old works as a first step onto Islay for drinkers who find the south coast too smoky. The distillery does make peated whisky too, so its range covers both sides of the island's character.

To place Bunnahabhain among its neighbours, read our guide to what makes Islay whisky so smoky and the wider whisky regions of Scotland. For the full story of the site, its stills and its history, visit the Bunnahabhain distillery page, or explore more Scotch on the Scotland country page.

The Range

How the core Bunnahabhain bottlings sit against each other, accessible to aged

The everyday Bunnahabhain

Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old

The house style at its most accessible. Largely unpeated, with sea salt, toasted nuts and a gentle sherried sweetness. A soft, rounded introduction to the distillery.

The sherried step up

Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old

More years in sherry casks deepen the fruit. Dried figs, dark chocolate and toffee sit over the maritime salt for a richer, warmer dram.

The mature Bunnahabhain

Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old

Long ageing softens everything into layered oak, waxy fruit and a lingering coastal note. Complex and unhurried, the range at its most refined.

The smoky exception

Peated and limited bottlings

Bunnahabhain does make peated whisky too, like the Toiteach range, where island smoke joins the salt and sherry. Add the cask-strength and limited releases and this is where the distillery shows its other side.