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Bunnahabhain 21 Year Old Cask Strength 2025 Edition Review

Can a 21-year Oloroso malt still shine after a bold PX finish? This review unpacks Bunnahabhain’s 2025 cask-strength Islay limited edition.

OVERALL RATING

9
$312
  • Mark Bostock, a whisky enthusiast specializing in independent bottlings.
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Tasting Notes

About:

The 2025 edition of Bunnahabhain’s annual limited-edition 21-Year-Old Cask Strength bottling. Islay’s Bunnahabhain distillery hand selected 21 individual casks, each one matured for 21-years in ex-Oloroso sherry wood. This maturation concluded with a 21-month finish in premium Pedro Ximénez casks sourced from Jerez, Spain. Limited to just 2,568 bottles globally, this expression was bottled at natural colour and without chill filtration at 53.1% ABV.
Appearance:
Deep Gold
Nose:
On the nose, lots of dried fruit aromas including raisins, apricots and sultanas accompanied by notes of treacle and caramelised brown sugar. There are also notes of spicy Pedro Ximénez sherry, with touches of walnut, leather, and a hint of coastal maritime salt.
Palate:
Sweet mouthcoating PX sherry opens on the palate, leading into sherry-soaked fruits accompanied by hints of chocolate, before a surge of stewed cherries and plums. Layers of mixed roasted nuts, spicy peppery oak, mocha, cinnamon, and clove follow.
Finish:
A long warming finish, shifting between mouthcoating sherry and stewed fruits, chocolate and a touch of cinnamon and ginger. At the close the maritime note returns with a slight salty note.
Comments:
The Bunnahabhain 21-Year-Old Cask Strength 2025 Edition offers a layered, balanced and well-aged single malt experience, with bold notes of sherry, fruits, chocolate, and nuts. The Pedro Ximénez cask finish influence is clear, even after 21-years of maturation in ex-Oloroso casks, and the two sherry cask types are well integrated for a rounded and complex sherried whisky.

Bunnahabhain’s characteristic maritime note feels a little muted, discernible on the nose but then absent until the finish. I’d have liked to have picked up a touch more coastal influence and saltiness if only to distinguish its origin. With complex, balanced layers the Bunnahabhain 21-Year-Old Cask Strength 2025 Edition will easily appeal to whisky enthusiasts who enjoy older age statement or well-sherried whiskies.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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