Bunnahabhain 29 1987 Wemyss The Viceroys Elixir

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Thanks to /u/Saba007 for pouring me this dram.

Hey, so I’m behind. Super behind.

There was this whisky that came out. It’s a 29-year-old Bunnahabhain. Oh, and the second it came out, everyone went ape nuts for it and it was purchased before the first digital piece of ink could hit the digital internet tube to get to you.

Of course, I’m talking about Bunnahabhain 29 1987 Wemyss The Viceroys Elixir, a sherried, old Bunnahabhain that isn’t cask strength but is a single cask. Brought to you by Wemyss Malts, who always name their single cask releases in cuter, better ways than SMWS will ever dream of.

But was this dram just all hype? I have no dog in this race. Most of it’s sold and already called legendary. But I still wanted it, so I found someone to pour me a dram.

Was it worth it? Let’s see, shall we?

Price: N/A at the LCBO

Region: Islay

Vintage: 1987

Bottled: 2017

Cask Type: Sherry Butt

Number of bottles: 579

Abv: 46%

Colour: 7.5YR 3/6

Nose: Stewed plums, light brown sugar, cinnamon, raisin, papaya

Immediately there’s that super sherried dram note of plums and brown sugar. Quite wonderful. Don’t think old sherry, think something that’s been sitting in sherry for a long time. Tons of over sherry. More sherry on the nose than whisky, which I’m not always happy with.

Taste: Raisin butter tarts, dry apple, brine, prunes, papaya/peach

Rich, buttery, back to being closer to a whisky. Lovely brine from Bunnahabhain. Takes to sherry so well. The taste is bringing back more of that balance.

Hard to find something that I’m not liking here. Maybe if you hate fruit? Hope you enjoy vegetables, otherwise, that scurvy’s going to hurt you (salty) dawg.

Finish: Dried cherries, sand, mint, caramel, flatbread, cardamon, cinnamon

Long finish. Super long. Wow, this is where it kicks up. We’re now at that perfect mixture of rich fruit and Xmas spices. I can see why this was bought up quickly. Release this in the summer and it’d still be around.

Well, probably not. Taters are going to tate, after all.

Conclusion: I’m going to react to this dram simply: For a long time in my reviewing hobby, I’ve come upon older Bunnahabhain. Some with sherry maturation, other with ex-bourbon. Suffice to say they have been really, really good.

This one is no different, save it has had such a long time in sherry that it worked, with only some balance issues on the nose. Of which only whiney bitch snobs like myself would worry about.

Add to that it’s watered down but doesn’t really feel that hurt by it, and I’m not surprised at the popularity. Personally, if I had the chance, I would have purchased a bottle. I can’t, oh well, I’ll keep trying more.

Try this if you get the chance.

86/100

Scotch review #1107, Islay review #296, Whisky review #1718