Bunnahabhain 17 Years The Chess Malt Collection Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 53.4%

A chessboard holds 32 pieces, and The Chess Malt Collection has given every single one of them a bottle of whisky – this 17 Years Old Bunnahabhain is one of them.

Expert's Description

Bunnahabhain 17 Years Old The Chess Malt Collection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a sherry hogshead and bottled at 53.4%.

The Danish bottler The Chess Malt Collection has, since 1989, selected single casks from across Scotland and let each bottle stand for a piece on the chessboard – two kings, two queens, four bishops, four knights, four rooks and sixteen pawns, split between the classic black and white. This Bunnahabhain is bottled as rook A8-F7, number 22 in the line-up.

The whisky was distilled in November 2008 and rested for 17 years in a sherry hogshead before being bottled in November 2025 without chill filtration and without added colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark sherry and dried fruit settle around a whisper of peat ash and toasted almond.

Palate

Full and spicy with raisins, walnuts and a touch of leather, balanced against the sherry's sweetness.

Finish

Long and dry with lingering spice and a faint last trace of smoke.

Specifications

Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: The Chess Malt Collection
Region/Country: Scotland (Islay)
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 Years
ABV: 53.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry Hogshead
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Double Distilled
Distilled: November 2008
Bottled: November 2025
Number of Bottles: 272
Edition: The Chess Malt Collection

Flavour Profile

Sherry-Matured · Spicy · Full-Bodied · Lightly Peated

Did You Know?

The Chess Malt Collection is the work of a Danish spirits importer that has traded in wine and spirits since 1989 – the collection counts 32 unique single cask bottlings in total, one for every piece on the board.

See our full range of Bunnahabhain · See our full range of The Chess Malt Collection

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Frequently Asked Questions about Bunnahabhain 17 Years Old The Chess Malt Collection

What does Bunnahabhain 17 Years Old The Chess Malt Collection taste like?

Dark sherry and dried fruit meet a whisper of peat ash and toasted almond, with a full and spicy palate.

What is The Chess Malt Collection?

A Danish collection of 32 single cask bottlings, where each bottle represents a piece on the chessboard – this Bunnahabhain is bottled as rook A8-F7.

Is this release smoky?

Only lightly. The sherry hogshead and the 17 years give a faint smokiness on the finish, but it's not a heavily peated whisky.

How many bottles exist?

272 bottles were bottled from this single sherry hogshead.

Which glass should I use?

A Glencairn glass best highlights the balance between sherry, spice and the faint smoke.

Is it worth it as a collector's item?

As one of only 32 unique bottlings in a completed series, it holds clear appeal for collectors wanting a complete or partial Chess Malt collection.