🥃 Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old
The 18-year-old line of Bunnahabhain single malt whisky from Islay, 46.3% ABV; a darker, sherry-led style with no added colouring.
Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old is the 18-year-old line 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. In the glass the colour is deep red-brown, and the style is much darker and more sherried than the 12-year-old line.
Production. The Bunnahabhain distillery has operated on Islay since 1881, and according to Whiskypedia, maturation in ex-sherry casks is traditional for it. Difford's Guide does not name the oak cask type for this line, but its taster describes sherry, red wine, caramel, oak, toffee and sea salt. The standard Bunnahabhain versions contain almost no peat.
Why this matters for you. Compare it with the 12-year-old line: the strength is the same, 46.3% ABV, but age adds sweet caramel depth. Check the batch and the label, since the age on the label refers to the youngest whisky in the bottle. 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 18 Year Old is not named in the sources |
| Minimum maturation | 18 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 46.3% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Bunnahabhain 18 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 12 Year Old, 🥃 Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that the 18-year-old Bunnahabhain is stronger than the 12-year-old?
No. Both lines are 46.3% ABV, according to Difford's Guide.
What is its flavour like?
According to Difford's Guide, sherry, caramel, toffee and molasses with sea salt dominate.
Does it contain added colouring?
No, Difford's Guide notes that it 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.
- 🥃 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.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Bunnahabhain 12 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 18 Year Old (46.3 %, 18 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