Bunnahabhain Chat Lafite

Overview
Bunnahabhain Château Lafite represents a cask-finished expression from the historic Islay distillery, where the core spirit undergoes a maturation or finishing period in barrels previously used for Château Lafite Rothschild red wine, imparting distinctive Bordeaux influences to the classic Bunnahabhain profile.

Specs at a glance

Good to know
Bunnahabhain Distillery, located on Islay's northeast coast since 1881, produces lightly peated or unpeated single malts with a maritime character influenced by its coastal warehouses. Château Lafite finishes align with the distillery's history of innovative cask use, including other prestigious wine estates, to layer complexity onto the gentle smoke and brine.

Tasting notes

• Nose: Subtle maritime brine meets dark berry fruit and cassis from the Lafite casks, with hints of cedar and violet.
• Palate: Bold blackcurrant and plum dominate, balanced by Bunnahabhain's signature nougat and light peat smoke; oak spice and graphite add structure.
• Finish: Lingering red wine tannin and sea salt, medium-length with fading fruit sweetness.

Notable details

• Production: Finished in first-fill Château Lafite Rothschild red wine casks; non-chill filtered, typical of Bunnahabhain special releases.
• Lineage: From Bunnahabhain's core range of coastal Islay malts, evolving from unpeated traditions to peated and finished variants.
• Comparison: Shares wine-cask fruit depth with peers like Glenmorangie or Balvenie Bordeaux finishes, but retains Islay's subtle smokiness.
• Availability: Limited release, subject to distillery's periodic cask-driven bottlings.

Closing
A refined bridge between Islay's rugged seaside spirit and Bordeaux elegance, ideal for contemplative sipping.