Bunnahabhain 30 Year Old 1988 Xtra Old Particular

Today we’ll try a Bunna from 1988 that matured for three decades on a refill butt – a sherry cask. It was released in 2018 in the XOP – Xtra Old Particular – series from Douglas Laing. Not for everyone’s purse, I’m afraid, for a bottle will set you back some 425 to 500 EUR. Luckily I got a sample from a whisky loving friend.

The nose is deliciously sweet and waxy on shoe polish, raising, chewing tobacco, banana peel, cola candy, blueberries, quince and toffee apples. I’m sure some peated malt was involved, for there is a lovely hint of smoke, albeit in the background. This is first and foremost and absolutely candy-like fruit bomb. It’s simply outstanding…

The arrival is softly seasoned and waxy. Now it shows a salty edge that the fruit has a hard time getting though. It actually becomes a battle of sweet versus salty. The bananas return, followed by some sultanas and lemon. The spiciness makes me think of ginger, aniseed and liquorice. A bitter note from the oak appears midpalate. Fine balance.

The finish is nicely long, warm on woodsmoke and drying.

The bananas really stood out, I think. Bunnahabhain bananas… let’s makes that Bunnanas. Thanks, Carl!

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