Bunnahabhain 'The Octave' Peated 2014 Duncan Taylor 750ml

Bunnahabhain 2014 peated single malt is an exemplary dram from the Islay distillery. Aged for six years in oak casks, what makes this a standout expression is a three month flourish in an octave cask. Only 50 bottles have been yielded from this process, and all come at a punchy cask strength of 53.6% abv. The finish in an octave is important, as this type of cask contains about 1/8th of a butt, meaning there is a lot more interaction between the whisky and the oak cask. It is free from chill filtration and any artificial colouring.

Peat smoke combines with rich fruit notes on the nose, and the palate gives subtle hints of brown sugar, toasted almonds, liquorice, and rich fruit. The finish is sweet and peaty, with notes of highland toffee and tablet arriving in a luxurious texture. A fascinating dram.

-- whiskyshop.com