My Whisky Shelf 3

By the end of June the 'whisky shelf' was looking well stocked
(and sadly in alphabetical order !)

Whisky Discovery #15

Bunnahabhain 13 Year Old 1997

Heavily Peated Cask Strength Collection (54.60% abv Signatory 70cl,)

Islay Single Malt Whisky

Circa £60

My first cask strength !

Another Birthday treat, this time from daughter Kat.

Distilled at the Bunnahabhain (pronounced BOO-na-HAven )on the 11th December 1997 and aged in two hogsheads (numbers 5501 and 5550 ) for 13 years before bottling on the 13th December 2010. 

A release of 588 bottles of cask strength, heavily peated Bunnahabhain. Mine is No. 248

Deriving from the Gaelic for ‘mouth of the river’, Bunnahabhain was founded in 1881 by William Robertson and brothers James and William Greenless. A very smooth, easy-drinking Islay malt. In relative solitude, Bunnahabhain is the Northern-most Islay distillery. It sits in a large bay to the North East of the isle, drawing its water from the Margadale Spring.

Whisky Discovery #14

Glenfiddich 18 Year Old (40% abv, OB, Bottled +/- 2011 70cl)

Speyside Single Malt Whisky

Circa £40

June's second bottle

A Birthday treat from son, Carl. Patiently matured in the Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks, before being married in small batches to create an extraordinarily smooth, rich and mellow single malt.

Married for at least three months in small, individually numbered batches in wooden tuns, the Glenfiddich 18 Year Old has a unique depth and complexity that has been acclaimed in the industry.

Nose: Remarkably rich aroma with ripe orchard fruit, baked apple and a robust oakiness

Taste: Richly delivers luxurious dried fruit, candy peel and dates overlaid with elegant cinnamon notes

Whisky Discovery #13

Lagavulin 16 yo(43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2011 70cl)

Islay Single Malt Whisky

Circa £40 –£45

June's 1st bottle

I had heard plenty about this malt from numerous web sites as well as personal recommendations so was really looking forward to this. First tasted in the Loch Fyne restaurant in Woburn on my 48^thbirthday.On the way home from lunch, popped into Costco and got my own bottle for my birthday present.

This Islay malt is one of my favourite drams and will always feature on my wish list.

Massive, peat-smoke typical of southern Islay, yet with a dry finesse that makes up a classy package.

Apparently the teetotal Johnny Depp sometimes orders a dram of this and just sniffs it (it’s that good). A worthy classic.

My Whisky Shelf 2

This was the state of my collection by early June.  Six months into my journey and all bottles were open.