Bunnahabhain 2018 Refill Sherry Hogshead #201225 - Spirit of Scotland - Gordon & MacPhail

Profile: An Overview of the Bunnahabhain 2018 Refill Sherry Hogshead #201225 - Spirit of Scotland - Gordon & MacPhail

• Islay Origin: This single malt hails from the historic Bunnahabhain Distillery in the north of the Scottish island of Islay.
• Refill Sherry Hogshead: Seven years of maturation in a previously used sherry cask allow the spirit plenty of room to express its own character.
• Single Cask: Bottled from a single cask—a highly limited release with only 259 bottles worldwide.
• Cask Strength: Bottled at a robust 60.7% ABV, preserving the spirit in its undiluted, full-strength form.
• Natural State: Non-chill filtered and free from artificial coloring—the natural hue comes exclusively from cask maturation.

Portrait: What makes the Bunnahabhain 2018 Refill Sherry Hogshead #201225 - Spirit of Scotland - Gordon & MacPhail special

Islay without smoke? At first, that sounds a bit like hosting Oktoberfest in Munich without beer. And yet, it works surprisingly well. After all, Bunnahabhain is one of those Islay distilleries that traditionally favors a different character, producing whiskies that are predominantly free of pronounced smoky notes.

The distillery is located on the northern coast of the Scottish island of Islay, right by the sea. Bunnahabhain was founded back in 1881—meaning whisky has been produced here since a time when people likely thought far less about marketing and far more about the whisky itself.

This single malt dates back to 2018 and matured for seven years in a single refill sherry hogshead. A "refill" cask is one that has previously been used to mature whisky. While that might initially sound like "used," it is actually a deliberate choice in cask maturation: the wood exerts less influence, allowing the spirit more room to express itself.

The cask was selected by Stuart Urquhart for Gordon & MacPhail’s renowned "Spirit of Scotland" series. This independent bottler from Elgin boasts a history dating back to 1895 and is renowned for its long-standing partnerships with Scottish distilleries and its meticulous selection of individual casks.

In 2025, this Bunnahabhain was finally bottled as a Single Cask at a robust 60.7% ABV (cask strength). The whisky was kept as natural as possible: non-chill filtered and with no added coloring. Its color is derived entirely from the maturation process.

And then there are the 259 bottles. That isn't many—it’s essentially the whisky equivalent of "if you’re too late, you’ll only get to hear the story."

A special Islay single malt for anyone wishing to discover the island beyond the classic clouds of peat smoke.

Bunnahabhain 2018 – seven years of Islay, one cask, 259 bottles, and a truly distinctive character.

Distilled: 2018
Bottled: 2026
Cask No.: 201225
Outturn: 259 bottles

Tasting Notes: This is how the Bunnahabhain 2018 Refill Sherry Hogshead #201225 - Spirit of Scotland - Gordon & MacPhail tastes like

• Nose: Soft vanilla meets ripe raspberries and a subtle sea breeze. Delicate autumnal spice notes add depth and an elegant spiciness to the bouquet.
• Palate: Creamy toffee blends with toasted oak and a robust malt note. Dark fruit compote complements the full-bodied and pleasantly structured mouthfeel.
• Finish: The finish is spicy and intense, featuring a distinctive note of black pepper. This is accompanied by dry, bitter hints of dark cocoa that linger on the palate.