Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46.3% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair brings together sherry influences and a salty coastal character. This single malt is not smoky. Its maturation includes bourbon, sherry and refill casks. Dried fruit and caramel shape the whisky, while nutty notes and mild spices accompany its creamy texture.

Stiùireadair means “helmsman” in Scottish Gaelic. The name recalls the seafarers who connected Bunnahabhain with the mainland; a helmsman also appears on the bottle. Bottled at 46.3%, the whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured. It has a golden amber hue.

Stiùireadair won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2026. It received Gold at the International Spirits Challenge in 2023.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Dried fruit and creamy caramel come together on the nose. Hints of brine, vanilla and nuts add to the aromas, along with a little spice.
• Palate: The whisky feels creamy on the palate. Dried fruit, sea salt and creamy caramel are accompanied by subtle nutty notes and gentle spice.
• Finish: Delicate dried-fruit notes linger through the long finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Bunnahabhain lies in the north-east of Islay, on the Sound of Islay. William Robertson founded the distillery in 1881 together with brothers William and James Greenlees; production began in 1883. Housing and infrastructure for employees and their families were built alongside the distillery. The name Bunnahabhain means “mouth of the river”. Until 1960, the distillery could only be reached by boat; today, a single-track road leads to it.

Bunnahabhain uses water from the Margadale spring in production. Its distinctive distillation equipment includes tall, pear-shaped stills with long swan necks. These encourage a lighter, more delicate spirit because heavier flavour compounds do not rise as far. The distillery’s unpeated style also forms the foundation of Stiùireadair.

Facts: