Bunnahabhain Feis Ile 2021 Whisky Sample 2013 7 Year Old Moine Bordeaux Finish (30ml, 59.5%)

Bunnahabhain Feis Ile 2021 Whisky Sample 2013 7 Year Old Moine Bordeaux Finish (30ml, 59.5%)

The Bunnahabhain 2013 7 Year Old Mòine Bordeaux Finish was a standout from the "virtual" Fèis Ìle 2021. This release is a high-octane "peat and wine" monster, showcasing the distillery's heavily peated Mòine distillate matured in refill casks before being finished for five years in Bordeaux red wine casks.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Intense and "jammy." It opens with blackberry jam, raspberries, and dark grapes, quickly followed by a savory wave of barbecue-smoked meats and maple-glazed bacon. The smoke is dry and ashen, with a hint of toasted oak and red chili. As it sits, a curious note of red wine 'biro ink' and leather emerges.

Palate: Full-bodied and explosive. The arrival is a mix of stewed black fruits (blackcurrants and prunes) and creamy malt extract. Then the peat hits: sooty leather, earthy woodsmoke, and hot fireplace ashes. Mid-palate, it turns spicy and savory with notes of cocoa powder, salted liquorice root, and five-spice roasted peanuts.

Finish: Long, dry, and warming. The tannins from the Bordeaux wood provide a grippy structure, leaving notes of dark chocolate, over-ripened grapes, and lingering bonfire smoke. A final touch of chili heat and honey provides a spicy, sweet fade.

Why it's special

• The Long Finish: Five years in a wine cask is a long time for a 7-year-old whisky. This isn't just a "quick dip"; the Bordeaux wood has fundamentally reshaped the spirit, giving it the deep color and tannic backbone of a much older malt.

• The "Meaty" Peat: This Bordeaux version is much more "food-like." It captures that specific BBQ smoke and charred fruit profile that fans of Ardbeg Uigeadail or Port Charlotte often hunt for.