Bunnahabhain

Question 1

When was Bunnahabhain founded? By whom?

Answer 1

1881 by William Roberson (of Robertson & Baxter)

Question 2

Who did Bunnahabhain merge with in 1887 to form Highland Distillers?

Answer 2

Glenrothes (Highland distillers is now Edrington, although Bunnahabhain is not part of Edrington)

Question 3

Where is Bunnahabhain located?

Answer 3

Port Askaig on Islay

Question 4

Where does Bunnahabhain get it’s process water? It’s cooling water?

Answer 4

Maragadale Spring for process water, Loch Staioisha for cooling water.

Question 5

What is the peat level for Bunnahabhain’s core whiskies?

Answer 5

Style now is mostly unpeated (less than 2ppm), but 20% of production are now heavily peated whiskies over 35ppm

Question 6

What type of mash tun does Bunnahabhain have?

Answer 6

Stainless steel mash tun with copper cover

Question 7

How many washbacks does Bunnahabhain have? What size? What material?

Answer 7

6 washbacks, 70,000 litres, Oregon Pine

Question 8

How long are Bunnahabhain’s fermentations?

Answer 8

52-54 hours

Question 9

HOw many wash stills does Bunnahabhain have? What is the capacity? What shape? What is the charge?

Answer 9

2 wash stills (Onion shape)
35,000 litre capacity
16,800 charge (48%)

Question 10

How many spirits stills does Bunnahabhain have? What size? What shape? What is the charge?

Answer 10

2 Spirits stills (pear shaped)
15,500 capacity
15,200 charge (98%)

Question 11

What is the heating source for Bunnahabhain’s stills?

Answer 11

Steam from a bio plant down the hill (not owned by Bunnahabhain)

Question 12

What is the strength of Bunnahabhain new make spirit? What is the fill strength?

Answer 12

69% New make
63.5% fill strength

Question 13

What type of barrels does Bunnahabhain use?

Answer 13

Although their whiskies are aged in both ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks. Traditionally they use ex-sherry.

Question 14

What does Bunnahabhain mean?

Answer 14

Bunnahabhain means Mouth of the River in Gaelic

Question 15

What whiskies make up Bunnahabhain’s core range?

Answer 15

12 Year Old (46.3% ABV) 75% ex-bourbon casks, peat at 2ppm, non-chill filtered and no coloring
Stiureadair (46.3% ABV) NAS, 2nd fill sherry casks in warehouses near the sea (pronounced stew-rahdur)
18 Year Old (46.3% ABV) 100% sherry casks

Toiteach A DhA’ (46.3% ABV) NAS ex-bourbon and sherry (35-40ppm)

Question 16

What are the mashing waters at Bunnahabhain?

Answer 16

1st 50,000 liters @ 64C
2nd 24,000 liters @ 80C
3rd 20,000 liters @ 90C
4th 23,000 liters @ 90C (sparge)

Question 17

Bunnahabhain is a core element i which blends?

Answer 17

Famous Grouse
Black Bottle
Cutty Sark