Bunnahabhain 14 Year Old - Ruby Port Cask Finish - Fèis Ìle 2024

Special releases seem to come thick and fast these days, but Fèis Ìle bottlings still hold a particular appeal for me. For those unfamiliar, Fèis Ìle is Islay's annual whisky festival where each distillery releases exclusive expressions that often showcase something different from their core range. This 2024 release from Bunnahabhain is a 14 year old from 2009, finished in ruby port casks. It's an intriguing combination: Bunnahabhain's unpeated Islay character meeting the rich, fruity influence of port wine casks. When I had the chance to try it, I couldn't resist. Let's see what it's like...

Bottle

This follows Bunnahabhain's distinctive house style with that short, sturdy profile I've come to appreciate. The opaque black glass is their signature move, completely concealing the whisky inside. As I mentioned when reviewing the standard 12 year old, I'm still not entirely sure about this design choice. Part of the pleasure of whisky is admiring the natural colour, especially with a port cask finish where you'd expect something beautifully deep and rich. The label for this Fèis Ìle release follows the familiar Bunnahabhain artwork but with a lilac hue rather than the usual dark black, which gives it a softer, more distinctive look. It's a subtle change but enough to mark it out as something different from the core range. It's striking on the shelf, even if I do miss seeing what's in the bottle.

Colour

This is where things get properly exciting. Non-chill-filtered and naturally coloured at 58.7% ABV, this is serious whisky treated with proper respect. The opaque black glass means you can't admire the colour in the bottle, but once poured, the whisky reveals itself beautifully. It's genuinely dark, registering somewhere around the Old Oak or Brown Sherry elements on the colour scale. That depth of colour is exactly what you'd hope for from a port cask finish, rich ruby and mahogany tones that promise substance. The fact it's bottled at cask strength and without filtration or colouring shows Bunnahabhain's commitment to letting the casks speak for themselves. This is exactly what you want from a special release.

Nose - Rich and fruity. The port influence is clear with red berries, particularly raspberries and strawberries. There's dark chocolate and some nutty notes too. That coastal Bunnahabhain character weaves through quietly, a gentle maritime breeze behind all the fruit.

Palate - The cask strength announces itself with a warming, mouth-coating richness. Those port-influenced berries flood through: rich, jammy fruit with a lovely tartness that keeps it from being too sweet. There's dark chocolate, espresso, and that nutty character carrying through from the nose. The Bunnahabhain spirit brings a subtle salinity and coastal character that adds real complexity. Some gentle spice builds as it develops, pepper and cinnamon, with the oak influence showing through without dominating. The texture is thick and oily in the best possible way, properly luxurious. With a drop of water it opens up even more, revealing layers of fruit and spice.

Finish - Long, warming, and deeply satisfying. The port fruit lingers beautifully with dark berries and chocolate, whilst that coastal salinity remains right to the end. Gentle oak and spice fade gradually, leaving you with a wonderful memory of rich fruit and complexity. It's the sort of finish that makes you immediately want another sip.

Overall

This Fèis Ìle release is absolutely stunning. Bunnahabhain has taken their excellent unpeated spirit and elevated it with a gorgeous port cask finish that adds layers of fruit and richness whilst respecting the distillery character underneath. The coastal notes haven't been lost, they've just been wrapped in beautiful ruby port influence. It's a masterclass in cask finishing done right.

I managed to pick up my bottle for around £85, which feels like excellent value for a 14 year old cask strength expression of this quality. The non-chill-filtering and natural colour show proper respect for the spirit, and the 58.7% ABV delivers real presence. If you're a Bunnahabhain fan or love port cask whiskies, this is exceptional. It's special enough that I'm rationing my bottle and savouring every dram.

The challenge now is availability. Fèis Ìle releases sell out quickly and this one is no longer easy to find, but if you do come across it - it’s a belter!