Bunnahabhain, Islay’s most northerly distillery since 1881, has launched an exclusive Single Cask Programme, offering whisky enthusiasts the opportunity to own a cask of new make Staoisha peated spirit.

The limited release is a departure from Bunnahabhain’s traditionally unpeated character and is a robust, smoky spirit supervised by distillery manager Andrew Brown. 

Investment is now available for casks of Staoisha, which is drawn from Islay’s tallest stills and made using mineral-rich water from the Margadale Spring. The launch is inspired by Loch Staoisha, located close to the distillery on Islay’s rugged northern coast and peatlands.

Buyers can choose between a 200L first fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel (£5,650), a 250L Hogshead Refill (£6,750) or 500L first fill Oloroso Sherry Butt (£13,850).

Master blender Julieann Fernandez said: “A single cask programme has been in our sights for some time, and we wanted to make sure that we had a special offering for whisky lovers worldwide. Traditionally, Bunnahabhain is celebrated for its unpeated single malts, so the opportunity to own a cask of Staoisha new-make spirit is really quite rare.”

Each cask owner will get the chance to decide whether their cask matures at Bunnahabhain, or whether it is transferred to Bunnahabhain’s sister distillery Deanston. Maturing a cask at Bunnahabhain will offer a slow, steady ageing process due to Islay’s maritime climate and traditional dunnage warehouses. This environment helps preserve the peat intensity while gradually introducing coastal, briny notes and subtle oak influence.

This is contrasted by maturation at mainland-based Deanston. Here, maturation occurs in a drier climate with racked warehouses, which can lead to faster oak interaction and a shift toward sweeter, spicier and fruitier flavours.

Casks will be matured for a minimum of five years, with owners invited to the distillery and sample their cask.

“Nothing brings me more joy as master blender than witnessing a cask’s journey; going from fresh, fruity distillate to rich, expressive single malt,” Fernandez said.

“By purchasing directly from the distillery, you also have the opportunity to be part of the journey.”