🥃 Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old
The 12-year-old core expression of Bunnahabhain single malt whisky from Islay, 46.3% ABV; non-chill-filtered and with no added colouring.
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old is the core 12-year-old expression of single malt Scotch whisky from Islay. According to Difford's Guide, it is bottled at 46.3% ABV, without chill filtration and without added colouring. It is a relatively gentle Islay whisky: tasting notes mention a faint smoke, nuts and sea salt.
Production. According to Whiskypedia, the Bunnahabhain distillery was founded in 1881 by William Robertson, and it now belongs to Distell Group. The house tradition is maturation in ex-sherry casks, and the standard versions contain almost no peat. Difford's Guide does not specify the cask type used for the 12-year-old; its taster notes nutty sherry and raisins. In summer 2010 the strength was raised from 40% to 46.3% ABV and the bottle was changed.
Why this matters for you. This is a useful starting point for comparison with the 18-year-old Bunnahabhain: the difference is in age and depth, not strength. Check the label before buying, because older bottles were 40%. WHO reminds: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | distillery Bunnahabhain — 1881; new strength 46.3% — since summer 2010 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Islay) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | malted barley, mostly unpeated |
| Cask type | traditionally ex-sherry casks (Whiskypedia); the cask type for the 12 Year Old is not named in the sources |
| Minimum maturation | 12 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 46.3% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Bunnahabhain, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Islay whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old, 🥃 Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old, 🥃 Deanston 12 Year Old
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Bunnahabhain 12 is smoky like other Islay whiskies?
Mostly not. Difford's Guide mentions only a faint smoke; Whiskypedia says the distillery has used almost no peat since the 1960s.
What changed in 2010?
According to Difford's Guide, in summer 2010 the strength rose to 46.3% ABV and a new bottle of smoked glass appeared.
Does it contain added colouring?
No. Difford's Guide notes that the whisky is bottled without chill filtration and without added colouring.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Deanston 12 Year Old — Core expression of the Deanston distillery: Highland single malt whisky, 12 years in bourbon casks, 46.3% ABV.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old · 🥃 Aberlour A'bunadh · 🥃 Aberlour Casg Annamh · 🥃 Kilchoman Machir Bay · 🥃 Kilchoman Sanaig · 🥃 Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old (46.3 %, 12 years, non-chill-filtered, no added colouring, relaunched 2010)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Bunnahabhain (Islay; founded 1881 by William Robertson; ex-sherry casks traditional; Distell Group)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)
Also listed under
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch WhiskyIslay whisky
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch WhiskyBunnahabhain
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch Whisky
- SpiritsWhiskyBunnahabhain