Bunnahabhain, 18-year-Old, Islay, Single Malt Whisky, 46.3%

Bunnahabhain was established in 1881 on Islay. Pronounced 'Boo-na-ha-ven' and meaning 'mouth of the river', Bunnahabhain is accessible through a winding lane off the main road to Port Askaig. Its distillery is set around a courtyard in a style that resembles a Bordeaux château. Despite expansion in 1963, the distillery has changed little. Bunnahabhain is sometimes referred to as "the Islay whisky without the Islay character” because it is less peaty than other Islay malts. Its light color (for an Islay) is attributable to the spring water being drawn before it runs "over and through" the well-known Islay peat bogs. This quality is further enhanced by the distillery taking only a narrow cut from the second distillation.

Islay whisky is a distinctive style of Scotch whisky from the Isle of Islay, known for its peaty and smoky flavours. The island's maritime climate adds a briny quality to the whiskies. Famous distilleries like Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Bowmore produce sought-after single malts with powerful and complex flavours, making Islay whisky a captivating category within Scotch whisky.