Bunnahabhain 40 Year Old 1973 The Whiskyman

The Lindores Whisky Festival in Ostend (Belgium) is well-known. Four of the gang (Dominiek, Geert, Christophe and Dirk – their faces are on the label) were all born in 1973, so they thought it a good idea to release a Birthday Dram. They selected a 40 Year Old Bunna from 1973 from the stables of The Whiskyman (which is Dominiek). I put it head-to-head with a 1972 Bunna from The Golden Cask.

Ka-boom! This nose is bull’s eye! Überfruity (is that a word?) on melon, mango, pineapple, banana – lots of banana in fact – kiwi and papaya. I am on a tropical island! It is quite waxy, I have to emphasize. Polished parquet, honey, yellow potpourri, beeswax. In all the way in the back a hint of the sea and a soft trace of woodsmoke appears. This is absolutely wonderful.

It is quite creamy and fruity on the palate. Banana in the lead (both ripe and green), followed by all the other tropical fruit. Thanks to the wood, it does become quite piquant. Pepper and ginger, mostly. If there was something like salted honey… this is it! Midpalate I get some lemon zest and marzipan. Nice balance. This is stunning. It makes me completely bananas!

Only in the long, sweet finish does the oak rear its head again, leaving the mouth dry. The this party is long from over.

Dangerously quaffable Bunna, that lingers quite long. Great selection.

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