Signatory Vintage 1978 Bunnahabhain 44 Year Old Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Signatory Vintage 1978 Bunnahabhain 44 Year Old Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky is an exceptionally mature Islay release, distilled on 18 December 1978 and bottled on 5 October 2023 after 44 years of maturation. Released as part of Signatory Vintage’s 35th Anniversary celebrations, this remarkable whisky was drawn from a single 2nd Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt, Cask #7638, and bottled at a natural cask strength of 41.5% ABV. With an extremely limited outturn of just 238 bottles worldwide, it showcases the graceful side of long-aged Bunnahabhain, combining orchard fruit, mature nuts, earthy depth and gentle coastal character with a beautifully restrained sherry influence. It is a rare example of old Islay whisky where elegance, age and distillery character remain in remarkable balance.

Distillery: Bunnahabhain Distillery
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Series: 35th Anniversary / Rare Reserve
Vintage: 1978
Age: 44 Years Old
ABV: 41.5%
Cask Type: 2nd Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt
Cask Number: 7638
Outturn: 238 Bottles

Founded in 1988, Signatory Vintage has built a reputation for preserving exceptional single casks and presenting them with minimal intervention. Its 35th Anniversary releases brought together an extraordinary collection of mature whiskies selected to mark the independent bottler’s milestone year, with this 44-year-old Bunnahabhain representing one of the oldest expressions in the range. Bunnahabhain, founded in 1881 on Islay’s north-eastern coast, is traditionally known for a gentler, less heavily peated style than many neighbouring distilleries, often showing orchard fruit, malt, nuts and maritime character. More than four decades in a refill Oloroso butt has allowed those qualities to mature slowly, adding earthy complexity, old wood and subtle sherry richness without overwhelming the elegant spirit beneath.

Tasting Notes:

The aroma is wonderfully mature and refined, opening with fresh garden apples, ripe pineapple and soft pine honey alongside almond cream and delicate old oak. Layers of walnuts, waxes and gentle oils develop with time, giving the nose a beautifully complex and almost Cognac-like maturity. The palate is elegant and savoury, with sultanas, walnut, mustard spice and damp earth joined by mushrooms, humus and a subtle salty quality. A distinctive sweet-and-savoury character emerges through notes of dates, marzipan and restrained Oloroso richness. The finish is balanced rather than overpowering, with lingering earthiness, dried fruit, walnut and gentle salinity gradually fading into mature oak and a soft liqueur-like sweetness.