Tastes

Golden straw color. Lovely fruity smell, apples and apple, mixed with toffee. And also dried fruits, maybe currants. As it opens, it becomes dessert-like. On palette, the fruit continues and a salt presence appears. Just the right amount of ocean. Great balance, and while not long, very pleasant lingering orange marmalade flavor on tongue that lingers a touch.

Cereal and hint of fruit on nose, with some salt. Honeyed and almost nutty - marzipan. I do get a hint of smoke and some sherry. On palette, medium bodied. Up front, dried apricot mixed with malt and a hint of salt. Sherry comes on, not like a Speyside, but well mixed with the honey and salt. Just a hint of that Islay smoke, which lays way back. Finish is warm and medium long. It finished with a hint of chocolate. [https://whiskyanalysis.com/index.php/2016/06/17/bunnahabhain-18-year-old/]

Red caramel color. Lovely. Clearly sherried, as if you did not know that already! Baking spices mixed with the nutty, fruit of the sherry cask. On the palette, orange spearmint, really sweet. Light finish full of toffee. Great balance.

Beautiful brown caramel in color. First whiff is full of butter and very soon the sherry appears, intense. Sherry is not though overpowering. After 10 minutes, the esters make an appearance. Definitely sweet orange, not peel. Great body on palette. Sticks in mouth, and long. Surprisingly, flavor is dominated by an orange sucking candy that sits in perfect balance with the sherry and woodsy vanilla. Chocolate appears at back and some mild white pepper. Very long.

Light gold. Intense aroma immediately - starts open, full of pleasant smoke. No doubt this is an Islay, from one of the big 3. It opens into an even ashier smoke. Strong, intense +! That smoke does dissipate after about 5 minutes. Then magic begins. New aromas appear. Some orange, and chocolate in the back. Some leather. Complex. Definitely a smell of toasty cereal. There is barley in this! A bit longer, and straw mixes with the cereal. Smoke now integrated. After about 15 minutes it is balanced and sweet, with smoke, cereal, and vanilla mingling. Some fruit is present too, can’t quite identify it. Give it longer and more chocolate. Definitely orange in the midst of it all. On palette, first you get the Islay smoke, but it is so much more balanced then younger vintages. As with the nose, it mingles with cereal at the front, and evaporates leaving distinct orange. Salty - you can taste the ocean air. Not super long, which was a surprise. Like champagne bubbles, it evaporates and salty cereal remains. Really opens over time and then the flavors continue to evolve. Pour one big dram, and sit with it for 2 hours at least! The contrast on the palette is fascinating, between a smoke and ash and chocolate, contrasted with the light fruit and savory notes of sea salt, iodine, and campfire. Tremendous balance, with ash, grain, and vanilla on the nose, and on palette you get chocolate and salt mixing in with fruit, finishing surprisingly clean. Smoke, barley, wood and ocean and perfect harmony.

Tight at first pour, as expected. Beautiful color, electric gold and caramel. Very little on the nose at first. After 10 minutes you begin to get some gentle caramel. Still tight but some spice begins to appear, maybe cinnamon. Honey. Still a bit tight after 15 minutes. After 20 minutes the aroma gets from the glass to me, and is suddenly intense. Coconut is apparent. First taste, very unusual flavors appear. Let it open further, and it changes. This whisky is a chameleon. Tobacco now on the nose. Definitely get dried fruit and some raisin with orange. Definitely opening up as caramel begins to mix with the dried dates and raisins. Another smell, and definite sea water with the caramel. On the tongue, really long with fruit, maybe pear on end and chocolate finish. Further opening and the chocolate appears first on the nose. Then orange and chocolate. Like a wine, this really opens. By end of dram, the orange and citrus dominates with a milk chocolate finish and soft tannin. One of the most complex whiskies I have ever had. Amazing. Great dessert wine. Summary: chocolate, orange, vanilla and tobacco that unfold over time in perfect balance. Dessert in a glass. Great summary: [https://flaviar.com/bruichladdich/bruichladdich-black-art-81/tasting-notes-reviews] Best whisky I have ever had. The complexity, flavor, balance - this is one to not forget and it actually wears its price well.

Surprisingly light, straw color. On the nose, starts with a surprise - leather. Savory and tangy. As it opens, the meat smell dissipates replaced by a gentle spice. As it opens, chocolate appears. The palette is 2 tone. Subtle. First is a slightly smoked tea, and on the back of the palette at end, surprising unrolling of orange spice and orange juice, and vanilla. The finish ends with sweetness. Summary: Surprise flavors roll in and out. To fully appreciate this one give it a long time to sip slow - pour only when you have time to watch it develop. (Rating does not take price into account!)

Light bouquet. Medium caramel color. Sweet baking spice on the nose. Nose opens up into orange and developing vanilla, more sweet than tangy. Then the vanilla really comes through and you realize the sherry nuttiness is worked in, in great balance. Soft and smooth on palette. First thing that hits you is the sweet vanilla. Lingers long enough and fades. Summary: smooth vanilla, balanced and drying - fabulous! You could drink this one all night.

Dark straw color, a bit darker than I was expecting. Medium- intensity on the nose, and very pleasant. Unique vs. scotch. Honey and butterscotch and lemon as it opens. Maybe very light baking spice. Palette is similar with some light fruit mixed in with obvious vanilla. I hate this descriptor but, for alcohol level very smooth. Medium- length as it does fade. Worth buying if under $100 but not enough going on at this price.

Classic Macallan. Beautiful caramel color. Big nutty (toasted almonds?), sherry whiff. A bit malty. Powerful flavor, sherry forward but dissolves into a creamy, warm, vanilla. Definitely some orange. Lasts long with some gentle chocolate at the end, and a woodsy drying on tongue.