High age statement whiskies are about patience, but at Bunnahabhain, time isn’t just a number. It’s a force of character, weaving depth, complexity and poise into every dram. But which releases stand out most to our Master Blender, Julieann Fernandez?
We asked her to reflect on five unforgettable high age statement bottlings from recent years, each a rare expression of how cask, time and tide shape Bunnahabhain.
Here are her top five picks.
-1x1.jpg?v=1759920469173&transform=resize=600){kind=spacer}
Turas Math No.3 – 19 Year Old Armagnac Cask Finish
The third chapter in the Turas Math series is a celebration of rare finishes. After a long maturation in traditional sherry casks, this 19 Year Old spent its final years in French Armagnac casks, adding layers of orchard fruit and indulgent spice.
Tasting Notes:
Fresh pear and apricot lead on the nose, opening into honeycomb, cinnamon-dusted pastry and roasted hazelnut. The finish lingers with dark fruit and oak spice, kissed by a saline breeze.
“Armagnac is bold yet refined, and here it adds a luxurious fruitiness that plays beautifully with Bunnahabhain’s coastal character. For me, it felt like autumn in a glass - crisp air, orchard fruits, and the warmth of spice. It’s an unusual finish for us, and one that shows how adventurous patience can be.”
- Julieann Fernandez, Master Blender
Fèis Ìle 2024: 27 Year Old – Moscatel Cask Finish
An iconic festival release, this 27 Year Old is as rare as it is expressive. The Moscatel casks lent a bright, honeyed delicacy that danced over the depth built across nearly three decades of coastal maturation.
Tasting Notes:
Notes of peach skin, wild honey and golden raisin meet layers of fig, cedarwood and a gentle thread of sea spray. The finish is elegant and lingering, with soft oak tannins and a whisper of spice.
“This whisky surprised me, in the best way. Moscatel has a lightness that can feel almost ethereal, and here it brought a brightness that lifted the richness of age. For 27 years old, it carried such vitality. A true reminder that maturity can still feel fresh.”
- Julieann Fernandez, Master Blender
Fèis Ìle 2023: 1998 Manzanilla Cask Finish
Bottled after 25 years, this Manzanilla finish was all about elegance and maritime character. Manzanilla’s saline edge echoed the coastal DNA of Bunnahabhain, creating a whisky of remarkable precision.
Tasting Notes:
Briny almonds and green apple on the nose, unfolding into layers of lemon zest, chamomile and toasted oak. The finish is long, savoury and subtly nutty, with a dry coastal freshness.
“Manzanilla is one of my favourite cask types to work with - its saline character feels like an extension of Islay itself. This release always reminds me of standing on the pier at Bunnahabhain Bay: the salt, the breeze, the clarity. It’s whisky with a sense of place.”
- Julieann Fernandez, Master Blender
-1x1.jpg?v=1759920579259&transform=resize=600){kind=spacer}
21 Year Old Cask Strength 2025 Edition
Every edition of our 21 Year Old Cask Strength tells its own story, and the 2025 release is one of quiet precision. Matured in ex-Oloroso casks before a long 21-month finish in the finest, hand-selected Pedro Ximénez casks, it’s a whisky that captures the dialogue between two landscapes: the chalky soils of Jerez and the salty air of Islay.
Tasting Notes:
Rich dried fruits, treacle toffee and walnut unfold into layers of chocolate-dipped cherries, espresso and warming spice. The finish is long and poised, carried by dark chocolate and a touch of sea salt.
“This release is a masterclass in balance. The PX finish brings luscious sweetness, but never overwhelms the coastal core. I remember nosing it and thinking how the sweetness and salt almost seemed to breathe together like a tide coming in and out. It’s power refined into poise.”
- Julieann Fernandez, Master Blender
25 Year Old
A cornerstone of the Bunnahabhain portfolio, the 25 Year Old represents patience rewarded. Matured exclusively in sherry casks, it’s a whisky that bridges intensity with elegance – the purest expression of unpeated Islay spirit meeting decades of slow transformation.
Tasting Notes:
Sweet sherry richness leads with caramelised fruit, chestnut honey and polished oak. Hints of cocoa, tobacco leaf and orange peel emerge, followed by a smooth, nutty finish that seems to last forever.
“This is a whisky I often come back to when I want to remember what time really does. The 25 Year Old is like an old story retold – familiar, but richer each time you listen. There’s warmth and wisdom here; everything that defines mature Bunnahabhain.”
- Julieann Fernandez, Master Blender
In Her Own Words
“High age statement whiskies are about patience. The cask, the coast, the passing years — they shape the whisky slowly, carefully, until every note feels deliberate. These five stand out not only for their flavour, but for the way they make me feel when I taste them. That’s the magic of age.”
– Julieann Fernandez, Master Blender
Pour, Reflect, and Explore
Each of these whiskies is more than liquid in a bottle. They’re windows into time itself. From the experimental finishes of Turas Math to the elegance of our festival releases, each one is a reminder of what happens when patience and place come together.
High Age Statement FAQs
1. What defines a “high age statement” whisky?
Typically, whiskies aged 18 years or more are considered high age statement. These expressions reflect the long influence of wood and environment, delivering depth, complexity and refinement.
2. How does age affect whisky flavour?
Over decades, casks mellow the spirit, drawing out richness from oak while softening harsher edges. Long maturation creates layered flavours, often with dried fruits, polished wood, and refined spice.
3. Are high age statement whiskies always better?
Not necessarily. They’re different – more composed and complex, but sometimes less raw and expressive than younger whiskies. Both have their place.
4. Why are most high age statements released as limited editions?
Because of their age, only a small number of casks exist. Many are bottled for specific occasions like Fèis Ìle or the Turas Math series, making them highly collectible.
5. How should I drink a high age statement whisky?
Neat is ideal to appreciate its structure, but a few drops of water can open up delicate layers. Sip slowly – these are whiskies to linger with.
