Bunnahabhain 40 years Old 1968 Duncan Taylor Peerless Cask:7013 40.8% 1968

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (90)

I think this series was nicknamed ‘glorious forties’.

Colour: gold.

Nose: we’re somewhere between the 1978/79 and the 1974 here. Not as expressive as the latter and rather more herbal and mentholated but more complex. Many tiny notes, honeys, flowers, soft spices, figs, quinces, patchouli and pot-pourri, a little leather, cigarette tobacco, tea… Once again, it could be over-oaked on the palate… or not!

Mouth: not at all! An even wider version of the 1974, even fresher, with more fresh fruits and once again an oakiness that’s below the limits. Added notes of pink grapefruits and mangos on top of these honeyed and light jammy notes. Of course there’s some tea and cinnamon but I insist, no excessive tannins at all.

Finish: rather long, with the expected notes of mint and liquorice kicking in.

Comments: simply another excellent oldie. Very low abvs can be scary (some many tired oak juices) but in this case it all ended perfectly well. Rather glorious indeed.