BUNNAHABHAIN

[Rehman]

Not being a drinker myself, I wish to convey a query to the aficionados and connoisseurs here. The Bunnahabhain, I'm told, is an aged single-malt whiskey from Islay in Scotland, offering smoky flavours of wood, leather, spice, caramel, salted roasted nuts, and "a tang of salt air".

The question is: What do you think would be the best cigar to complement such a drink?

[HabanosLuva]

Not being a drinker myself, I wish to convey a query to the aficionados and connoisseurs here. The Bunnahabhain, I'm told, is an aged single-malt whiskey from Islay in Scotland, offering smoky flavours of wood, leather, spice, caramel, salted roasted nuts, and "a tang of salt air".

The question is: What do you think would be the best cigar to complement such a drink?

Hi Rehman,

Everyone's palate is different. With Islay whiskies such as yours, the flavors do tend to be peatier (smoky) than Highland distilled whiskies. For me, I find myself gravitating towards fuller cigars such as Bolivar and Partagas to accent the peat, spice and nuttiness. But then again, you may really enjoy having a lighter cigar such as the HDM Epicure for a good contrast. No matter what you choose, you cannot go wrong when you have a nice dram of single malt. Good luck.

[mazolaman]

The peaty Islays are quite full flavoured,so I personally wouldn't go fro a strong full cigar,rather a sweet medium.....

One that springs to mind is a La Punta.....

[Guest rob]

I believe that a full bodied, full flavoured cigar is the way to go with Islay scotch.

I find that if you smoke a lesser bodied or lighter cigar that the scotch overwhelms the cigar and 'drowns's it out to the point where you cant detect flavour and subtely. Even body and mouthfeel are diminished.

Id be smoking a Partagas, Bolivar or RA Celestiales Fino. Mmmm, nice!

[LuciusSulla]

Bunnahabhain is a lot less peaty than other Islays. The even use "The Gentle Taste" in their marketing. I believe it aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks if memory serves. I'd agree that something medium bodied and a little on the sweet side would work well. A little spice should compliment the smoke, and I find with Scotches that have a sherry component something a little sweet and creamy really makes the sherry flavors pop on the finish.

[khomeinist]

This distillery recently increased the proof of their entry-level 12 year expression. I can recommend this whisky at 50$ US.

I would recommend an H Upmann product while drinking from this bottle. The particular vitola will depend on your preference. Try a Mag 46 or a #2 and decide for yourself.

The RA CF recommendation is intriguing I must admit.

[Rehman]

Lovely! Thank you so much, gentlemen. Lucius is right about the character of this whiskey. I'm helping a writer friend who wants to mention a cigar to team with Bunnahabhain but didn't want to do the wrong thing by lovers of either cigars or scotch. Who better to consult than the Clansmen? (Apologies, though, if this isn't the right place to post when there's a specific place here for drink threads. I went there but it seemed a tad deserted.)

[michael69]

Bunnahabhain ("Booner-harvun" in case anyone's wondering how it's pronounced) is definititely NOT a smoky/peaty Islay whisky like Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Laphroaig Islays.

They produce many many different expressions (too many in my opinion), and do have a peaty offering in the form of Port Charlotte (a now closed distillery) - PC8 is great!

the general distillery style is fairly light but complex in the better expressions, they have sherried/wine finished... all sorts of weird and wonderful experiments.

I suppose their most "famous" of these is the Octomore, which was produced deliberately to be the "peatiest" (i.e. highest phenol count) whisky ever.

I have a couple of bottles; it's young therefore not particularly complex and rather than being especially (and potentially un-drinkably) smoky, it's actually quite benign and sweet; yes, it very definitely one for us "peat-heads" but less hardcore than, say, Laphroaig cask strength 10 year old.

Now, as far as cigars are concerned, sweet goes well with spicier puros for sure; a particularly peaty whisky can be too much (I still like it though!)

So, I'd say, lighter cigars go with smokier whiskies and vice versa.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Bunnahabhain ("Booner-harvun" in case anyone's wondering how it's pronounced) is definititely NOT a smoky/peaty Islay whisky like Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Laphroaig Islays.

They produce many many different expressions (too many in my opinion), and do have a peaty offering in the form of Port Charlotte (a now closed distillery) - PC8 is great!

the general distillery style is fairly light but complex in the better expressions, they have sherried/wine finished... all sorts of weird and wonderful experiments.

I suppose their most "famous" of these is the Octomore, which was produced deliberately to be the "peatiest" (i.e. highest phenol count) whisky ever.

I have a couple of bottles; it's young therefore not particularly complex and rather than being especially (and potentially un-drinkably) smoky, it's actually quite benign and sweet; yes, it very definitely one for us "peat-heads" but less hardcore than, say, Laphroaig cask strength 10 year old.

Now, as far as cigars are concerned, sweet goes well with spicier puros for sure; a particularly peaty whisky can be too much (I still like it though!)

So, I'd say, lighter cigars go with smokier whiskies and vice versa.

You've got Bunny' mixed up with Bruichladdich, mate. Bruichladdich is the Islay distillery with all the different expressions.

As for Bunnahabhain itself - I've only ever tried one of their expressions, and it was a "Heavily Peated" Signatory bottling that was somewhat light in flavour after the peat. They do call themselves a more Gentler Whisky than say Laphroaig, who are Peat-crazed and proud of it.

Tough for me to recommend a cigar with a Bunny' - Upmann is probably a good way to go.

[Yoruba Hacker]

You've got Bunny' mixed up with Bruichladdich, mate. Bruichladdich is the Islay distillery with all the different expressions.

As for Bunnahabhain itself - I've only ever tried one of their expressions, and it was a "Heavily Peated" Signatory bottling that was somewhat light in flavour after the peat. They do call themselves a more Gentler Whisky than say Laphroaig, who are Peat-crazed and proud of it.

Tough for me to recommend a cigar with a Bunny' - Upmann is probably a good way to go.

Agree with this. Don't think of the the Bunny (or the Laddy) as smoky/peaty Islays. Rounder and subtler in taste. Teeny bit iodine-y,

but even that not so much.

I'd suggest a Monte of whatever size.