Bunnahabhain 12-Year-Old Thompson Bros. Madeira – 46.1%

This unpeated Islay malt was crafted at the Bunnahabhain Distillery, located in the remote north of the island of Islay, and was brought to perfection under the expert supervision of Thompson Bros. After a total maturation period of twelve years, this whisky spent the last five years in first-fill Madeira barriques, which lend it an extraordinary aromatic complexity. The independent bottlers from Dornoch consistently preserve the integrity of the distillate and bottle the whiskey without any coloring agents to present the natural interaction between the wood and the spirit in its purest form.

In the glass, the whiskey displays a warm amber hue that already hints at the influence of the fortified wine casks. The bouquet reveals a delicate balance of soft, ripe red berries and the rich texture of walnut oil, accompanied by a subtle marine note. On the palate, a full-bodied structure unfolds, where the fruity sweetness of Madeira wine meets Bunnahabhain’s characteristic, subtle coastal saltiness, resulting in a remarkably balanced flavor profile.