Bunnahabhain Feis Ile 2021 Whisky Sample 2001 19 Year Old Marsala Finish (30ml, 53.6%)

Bunnahabhain Feis Ile 2021 Whisky Sample 2001 19 Year Old Marsala Finish  (30ml, 53.6%)

To round out the trilogy, the Bunnahabhain 2001 19 Year Old Marsala Cask Finish represents the "Sicilian flair" of the 2021 Fèis Ìle. While the Bordeaux release was a young, peated firecracker, this unpeated 19-year-old is a sophisticated study in how fortified wine can enhance Bunnahabhain’s naturally nutty and fruity spirit.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Rich and intoxicatingly layered. It opens with Morello cherries, dried mango, and orange marmalade. The Marsala influence is clear, bringing a "dusty" elegance of old leather, tobacco leaf, and walnuts. As it sits, a creamier side emerges—milk chocolate, vanilla fudge, and a hint of musty dunnage warehouse.

Palate: Full-bodied and velvety. The arrival is sweet and syrupy, hitting with honeyed figs, red apples, and stewed plums. Mid-palate, it becomes "sweetly dry" and complex; notes of Black Forest cake, toasted almonds, and roasted chestnuts are balanced by a spicy prickle of cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper.

Finish: Long and sophisticated. It remains "off-dry" with a lingering nuttiness (unsalted peanuts) and a return of the tobacco and leather from the nose. A final, faint breath of herbal spice and sea salt provides the classic Bunnahabhain signature.

Why it's special

• The Extended Finish: Most "finishes" last 6 to 12 months. Giving this spirit 4.5 years in Marsala butts allowed it to develop a level of integration usually reserved for full-term maturation. It doesn't taste like "whisky with wine on top"; it tastes like a new, singular creation.

• Marsala vs. Sherry: Marsala often provides a more "apricot and tobacco" profile compared to the "raisin and chocolate" of Oloroso/PX. This makes the 2001 vintage feel brighter and more exotic than the 20-year-old 2020 release we discussed.

• The "Unpeated" Power: Because this is the unpeated Bunnahabhain spirit, the floral and nutty notes of the barley aren't competing with smoke. This allows the delicate red berry and stone fruit notes from the Marsala to take center stage.