#chieftain's

A very nice Glenallachie from Chieftain’s: single cask ( sherry butt number 900060), 637 bottles ,10 yo and the angels left us with 58,2% alcohol.

Chieftain’s Bunnahabhain Aged 10 Years 46% ABV. Unchill-filtered. Natural color. Distilled 9/2001.  Bottled 8/2013 Sherry Butt Cask # 466 Yield: 778 Bottles This bottle was purchased in late 2018 at a small, independent, stand alone shop just off a major intersection in Dover, Delaware. I saw this bottle along a top shelf, above the regular inventory, collecting a coat of dust. Being taller with good reach, I took it down, read the packaging and took it to the counter to discuss the bottle. The fellow behind the counter said he’d purchased the store recently and this bottle was old inventory. I asked him if he’d want to convert that dusty inventory that apparently hadn’t moved in quite some time into cash and we agreed on a price of $62 USD pretty quickly after I said it was priced a bit high for a younger whisky not at cask strength. I thought I made a good deal for both of us. It would be a full year before I finally opened this bottle. My thoughts upon doing so and then returning to it a week later are below. Color: a rich, dark caramel brown with hints of reddishness in the sunlight. Nose: alcohol vapors are present, but evaporate quickly. What remains is a surprisingly soft, light aroma of a classic Olorosa refill barrel: soft brown fruits and spices. A few drops of water releases the same aromas, but enhanced a bit for a few moments. Palate: a medium viscosity mouthfeel. Prunes, dates, figs, and raisins, perhaps roasted peaches, minimal brown fruitcake spice, followed by mild oak tannins delivering subtle notes of tobacco, leather and nuts into a medium length finish. The addition of water evoked a small amount of brown sugar and enhanced what was already apparent. The finish was a wee bit shorter after the drops of water were added. Bunnahabhain is one of those distilleries that lends itself to an expectation of enjoyment. This relatively young, solid-but-relatively lower ABV independent bottling is a good whisky. Not great, but quite good. The whisky has a degree of complexity as evidenced by the layers of flavors appreciated. At under $65, it was a good buy! Slainte!