Bunnahabhain 1989 / 34 Year Old / Cask #5891 / Connoisseurs Choice Upper Islay Whisky

Isla McCallister — Elegant old Bunnahabhain

8/10

This is what unpeated Islay does when you give it three decades in a good cask. Honey, walnuts, and a salty maritime note on the nose that kept me coming back to the glass. Neat is the only way to drink this one. Lovely stuff, though I wish the finish lingered just a bit longer.

Lena Petrova — Elegant old Bunnahabhain

8/10

This is what unpeated Islay does when you give it three decades in a good cask. Honey, walnuts, and a salty maritime note on the nose that kept me coming back to the glass. Neat is the only way to drink this one. Lovely stuff, though I wish the finish lingered just a bit longer.

Jorge Castillo — Elegant old Bunnahabhain

8/10

This is what unpeated Islay does when you give it three decades in a good cask. Honey, walnuts, and a salty maritime note on the nose that kept me coming back to the glass. Neat is the only way to drink this one. Lovely stuff, though I wish the finish lingered just a bit longer.

Marcus Blackwell — Elegant old Bunnahabhain

8/10

This is what unpeated Islay does when you give it three decades in a good cask. Honey, walnuts, and a salty maritime note on the nose that kept me coming back to the glass. Neat is the only way to drink this one. Lovely stuff, though I wish the finish lingered just a bit longer.

Ravi Krishnan — Elegant old Bunnahabhain

8/10

This is what unpeated Islay does when you give it three decades in a good cask. Honey, walnuts, and a salty maritime note on the nose that kept me coming back to the glass. Neat is the only way to drink this one. Lovely stuff, though I wish the finish lingered just a bit longer.

Oscar Delgado — Beautiful but hard to justify the price

7/10

Look, it's a gorgeous dram. Toffee, stewed apples, gentle brine — classic old Bunnahabhain character. But nearly a grand is a lot of money and I've had bottles at half the price that got close to this level of complexity. I'd buy a pour at a bar before committing to a full bottle.

Thomas Weber — Beautiful but hard to justify the price

7/10

Look, it's a gorgeous dram. Toffee, stewed apples, gentle brine — classic old Bunnahabhain character. But nearly a grand is a lot of money and I've had bottles at half the price that got close to this level of complexity. I'd buy a pour at a bar before committing to a full bottle.

Adaobi Eze — Beautiful but hard to justify the price

7/10

Look, it's a gorgeous dram. Toffee, stewed apples, gentle brine — classic old Bunnahabhain character. But nearly a grand is a lot of money and I've had bottles at half the price that got close to this level of complexity. I'd buy a pour at a bar before committing to a full bottle.

Valentina Ricci — One of the best Connoisseurs Choice releases

9/10

I've tried a fair few Gordon & MacPhail bottlings and this is up there with the best. The sherry influence is present but restrained — fig, raisin, polished oak — and it lets the distillery character shine through. Thirty-four years and it still feels lively. An absolute treat neat.

Kai Oliveira — One of the best Connoisseurs Choice releases

9/10

I've tried a fair few Gordon & MacPhail bottlings and this is up there with the best. The sherry influence is present but restrained — fig, raisin, polished oak — and it lets the distillery character shine through. Thirty-four years and it still feels lively. An absolute treat neat.

Annika Svensson — One of the best Connoisseurs Choice releases

9/10

I've tried a fair few Gordon & MacPhail bottlings and this is up there with the best. The sherry influence is present but restrained — fig, raisin, polished oak — and it lets the distillery character shine through. Thirty-four years and it still feels lively. An absolute treat neat.

James Okafor — A whisky that rewards patience

8/10

Don't rush this one. I sat with it for over an hour and it kept changing in the glass — started with honey and vanilla, then moved into darker territory with espresso and dried figs. The coastal undertone ties it all together. Not the peatiest Islay you'll find but that's Bunnahabhain for you, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Elena Vasquez — A whisky that rewards patience

8/10

Don't rush this one. I sat with it for over an hour and it kept changing in the glass — started with honey and vanilla, then moved into darker territory with espresso and dried figs. The coastal undertone ties it all together. Not the peatiest Islay you'll find but that's Bunnahabhain for you, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Sophia Laurent — A whisky that rewards patience

8/10

Don't rush this one. I sat with it for over an hour and it kept changing in the glass — started with honey and vanilla, then moved into darker territory with espresso and dried figs. The coastal undertone ties it all together. Not the peatiest Islay you'll find but that's Bunnahabhain for you, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Rafael Santos — Proper old-school Islay

8/10

Picked up a sample from a friend and I'm glad I tried it. There's a lovely waxy quality with dark chocolate and orange peel, plus that subtle sea-salt thing Bunnahabhain does so well. At 47.3% ABV it sits perfectly on the palate without being hot. Really well balanced for its age.

Dmitri Volkov — Proper old-school Islay

8/10

Picked up a sample from a friend and I'm glad I tried it. There's a lovely waxy quality with dark chocolate and orange peel, plus that subtle sea-salt thing Bunnahabhain does so well. At 47.3% ABV it sits perfectly on the palate without being hot. Really well balanced for its age.

Astrid Nilsen — Proper old-school Islay

8/10

Picked up a sample from a friend and I'm glad I tried it. There's a lovely waxy quality with dark chocolate and orange peel, plus that subtle sea-salt thing Bunnahabhain does so well. At 47.3% ABV it sits perfectly on the palate without being hot. Really well balanced for its age.

Henrik Larsen — Beautiful but hard to justify the price

7/10

Look, it's a gorgeous dram. Toffee, stewed apples, gentle brine — classic old Bunnahabhain character. But nearly a grand is a lot of money and I've had bottles at half the price that got close to this level of complexity. I'd buy a pour at a bar before committing to a full bottle.

Priscilla Nunes — Beautiful but hard to justify the price

7/10

Look, it's a gorgeous dram. Toffee, stewed apples, gentle brine — classic old Bunnahabhain character. But nearly a grand is a lot of money and I've had bottles at half the price that got close to this level of complexity. I'd buy a pour at a bar before committing to a full bottle.

Yasmine Najjar — Good but not great for the age

7/10

Had this at a tasting last month. It's pleasant and certainly complex — some nice nutty notes, dried apricot, a touch of smoke hiding in the background. But honestly at 34 years old I expected it to blow me away and it just didn't quite get there. Solid whisky, just not the knockout I was hoping for at this price point.