Bunnahabhain – Islay’s most northerly distillery since 1881 – has unveiled the latest 21 Year Old Cask Strength. Matured on the rugged north-east coast and crafted with Margadale spring water, this release is classic unpeated Bunnahabhain – rich, sherried and coastal.
For the past five years, the distillery has released annual cask strength bottlings to capture that “straight from the cask” experience. This year they’ve gone one better – launching both the 12 and 21 Year Olds.
Bottled at 53.1% ABV, just 21 casks made the cut. The whisky spent most of its life in ex-Oloroso sherry before a 21-month finish in Pedro Ximénez casks – think creamy berries, roasted nuts and a touch of sea spray, layered with syrupy sweetness, figs and molasses.
While only 0.5% lower in ABV than the 2024 edition, this new release is noticeably more refined – silkier and subtler, letting candied orange, raisin and delicate floral notes shine.
Master Blender Julieann Fernandez said, “Bunnahabhain’s cask strength series is a real highlight for me. Not all whiskies work at cask strength, and not all stand up to long maturation in sherry casks. However, Bunnahabhain is a robust and complex spirit; unpeated, oily, with notes of dried fruits and cereal so it stands up to both these challenges.
There is a slight drop in ABV this year and you would be forgiven for thinking it wouldn’t change the spirit too much. However this release is a lot more subtle. The spice is gentler and there is a much smoother finish. Cask strength doesn’t always have to be about power. Sometimes, it’s about poise.”
Why it matters for your bar
- Premium serve opportunity – a limited 21-year-old with a story customers will ask about.
- Perfect for whisky flights – contrast with the 12YO Cask Strength or a peated Islay for an easy upsell.
- Natural presentation – non-chill filtered, no added colour, straight from the cask as nature intended.
RRP £275. Available globally now at bunnahabhain.com and select specialist retailers.