About Bunnahabhain Whisky Distillery
Distillery Number
01496 840646
Distillery Founded
1881
Distillery Capacity
2 500 000 litres
Distillery Status
Active
Distillery Owner
Burn Stewart Distillers (CL Financial)
Distillery Address
Near Port Askaig, Islay, Argyll
Distillery Website
www.bunnahabhain.com
1881
William Robertson of Robertson & Baxter, founds the distillery together with the brothers William and James Greenless. The Greenless brothers co-founded the Islay Distillers Company Ltd in 1879 with James Ford.
1883
Production starts in earnest in January.
1887
Islay Distillers Company Ltd merges with William Grant & Co. in order to form Highland Distilleries Company Limited.
1930
The distillery closes.
1937
The distillery reopens.
1963
The two stills are augmented by two more.
1982
he distillery closes.
1984
The distillery reopens. A 21 year old is released to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Bunnahabhain.
1999
Edrington takes over Highland Distillers and mothballs Bunnahabhain but allows for a few weeks of production a year.
2001
A 35 year old from 1965 is released in a limited edition of 594 bottles during Islay Whisky Festival.
2002
As in the previous year, Islay Whisky Festival features another Bunnahabhain – 1966, a 35 year old in sherry casks and limited to 401 bottles. Auld Acquaintance 1968 (33 years, 2002 bottles) is launched at the Islay Jazz Festival. It is also named Hogmanay (after the Scottish New Year) as it was filled on 31st December 1968.
2003
In April Edrington sells Bunnahabhain and Black Bottle to Burn Stewart Distilleries (C. L. World Brands) at the princely sum of £10 million. A 40 year old from 1963, matured in sherry casks, is launched.
2004
The distillery experimented in the late 90s with a peated whisky and the first limited edition sample is a 6 year old cask strength called Moine.
2005
Three limited editions are released - 34 years old, 18 years old and 25 years old.
2006
14 year old Pedro Ximenez and 35 years old are launched.