Cadenheads Bunnahabhain 11yo Authentic Collection June 2025 & Cadenheads Ardnamurchan 5yo Authentic Collection June 2025

Cadenheads Bunnahabhain 11yo Authentic Collection June 2025

Region: Islay

ABV: 55.0%

Price: £75.00 

Distilled in 2013 and re-racked into an Amontillado hogshead in 2020, this peated Bunnahabhain was bottled in June 2025 after 11 years of maturation. Just 186 bottles were released as part of Cadenhead’s June Authentic Collection.

Nose

Punchy from the off. Heavy ash, dry earth, hickory smoke, and BBQ seasoning all arrive upfront. There’s a savoury thyme note, a faint antiseptic edge, and a background of lemon juice and flat lemonade. With time, we’re getting dry toasted peanuts, cranberry jus, iodine, tar, and a touch of ginger, and strawberry jam.

Palate

The palate is big, meaty, and ashy. Streaky bacon, tobacco leaf, and salted caramel lead the charge. There’s not much sweetness here, this is dry, savoury, and coastal in style. The mid palate has tar and pork scratchings before a gentle pepper spice appears on the medium length finish. We’d have expected the ABV to be lower based on the lack of spice, but also for the dram to be younger based on the hit of peat. The mouthfeel is solid, and coats the mouth slightly.

Nose (with water)

Water pulls the smoke back just a notch, but it’s still very much present. We’re now finding some brown sauce, beef Bovril, thyme, and clove appearing as the dominant notes. With patience we notice some tertiary notes of chocolate coins and freshly charred wood.

Palate (with water)

The palate softens slightly with water. Some honey, burnt wood, and vanilla come through, rounding out the dram slightly. There’s still plenty of salted caramel, bacon, and tar, but it’s better balanced now. The Mouthfeel holds up well as does the finish. The Amontillado cask is less noticeable once diluted, but it’s still contributing to the flavours.

Conclusion

A deliciously smoky and savoury Bunnahabhain that brings Laphroaig to mind more than its typically unpeated siblings. It’s a BBQ in a glass. A great option if you’re in the mood for a big peaty Islay hit. Or if you’d prefer a bit more balance, a splash of water tames it nicely. We bought a bottle.

Score: 8/10

Value

Cask strength peated Bunnahabhain, 11 years old and sherry matured, for £75 is a pretty good deal.

Cadenheads Ardnamurchan 5yo Authentic Collection June 2025

Region: Highlands

ABV: 58.1%

Price: £70.00 

Distilled in 2019 and fully matured in an Oloroso Butt, this unpeated Ardnamurchan was bottled in June 2025 after 5 years of maturation. Just 636 bottles were released as part of Cadenhead’s June Authentic Collection drop.

Nose

Initially quite tight, though it does get better with time. There’s lemon juice, Dairy Milk chocolate, maraschino cherries, and cola. With patience, we’re getting hints of warehouse funk, stewed apples, and a bit of fudge. The alcohol is reasonably well integrated, though there’s a little prickle here. We wouldn’t have guessed this was Ardnamurchan, apart from that initially citrus note we often associate with the spirit it’s mostly just cask on the nose.

Palate

It’s very spicy up front, and the mouthfeel is thinner than we’d like, especially at this strength. Ginger biscuits, tomato juice, brown sugar, and orange juice open things up, quickly followed by cracked black pepper and a hit of chilli sauce on the finish. Raisins and tobacco appear as it opens up. We’re still struggling to find the distillery character.

Nose (with water)

Reduction brings out orange marmalade, red cola, treacle, chocolate orange, and Big Red chewing gum. The sherry cask is really doing all the heavy lifting here, pushing any spirit notes even further into the background. It’s becoming increasingly one dimensional as we sit with it.

Palate (with water)

Less spice now, which is a relief, but the spice is still far too aggressive. Burnt toffee, dark chocolate, mint, and roasted coffee beans now all appear on the mid palate. The sherry cask influence continues to dominate. The mouthfeel has improved slightly, but the finish remains largely the same.

Conclusion

There are flashes of promise here, but the Ardnamurchan spirit is overwhelmed by 
cask... which wouldn’t necessarily be the end of the world, but when combined with the spice is off putting. Far from our favourite Ardnamurchan, and a rare miss from Cadenhead.

Score: 6/10

Value

Yes, £70 is a lot for a 5yo whisky, but this is also one of the cheapest single cask Ardnamurchan releases we have seen.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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