Bunnahabhain 18 Year

Nose is winey, complex Sherry, plums, fine alcohol balance. Water impact is +2. Great scotch to have in the bar.

Decent Dram. Fruity. Need to try again to determine bottle purchase.

BUNNAHABHAIN SHOWDOWN Bunnahabhain 13 Year Marsala Finish Bunnahabhain 18 Year My experience with Bunnahabhain is limited to the 12 year and the two bottles here. I’ve not had either in some time. While I’ve always liked the 18, I recall not caring for the 13 year marsala finish. Let’s see how this goes. Bunnahabhain 13 Year Marsala Finish Clear dark orange amber color. Notes of honey, biscuity blueberry scone, pine rosin, coffee. There’s an unexpected (to me) raspberry or lingonberry note as well. There’s some dates on the palate, as well as a touch of bitterness (this is what I recall not caring for when I last tasted it two to three years ago), finishing with some spiciness that leads to brown sugar and vanilla. Limited release exclusively for the US market. Non chill filtered; no statement about coloring (though it is slightly lighter than the Bunny 18 which does not have added coloring). Aged for 10 years in ex-bourbon casks, followed by three years in marsala wine casks. 46.3% ABV. While there are different notes and flavors, it is more interesting than it is complex: there are still aspects of this whisky that I cannot quite elucidate after 30 minutes of nosing and tasting, and it comes across as a little disjointed. 3.5 on the Distiller scale. Bunnahabhain 18 Year Clear, orange mahogany color; slightly darker than the Bunny 13. There is a tangy, barbeque sauce quality on the nose (think Heinz 57), dried speck, oak, dark toffee, dates, and some sherry sweetness. More sherry on the palate, with espresso and some noticeable ethanol. The BBQ twang makes a brief cameo on the finish as well, with lingering vanilla sweetness. Non chill filtered; no added coloring. Aged in ex-sherry casks. 46.3% ABV. Very nice. 4.0 on the Distiller scale.

Re-taste. “Bunnahabhain & Friends” tasting at The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 15 June 2022. Whisky #3 Nose: Substantial aromas of sherry, raisin, nuts, dried mixed citrus peel, plums, figs and cinnamon. An elegant and mature oak fragrance as of old waxed oak furniture fills in all the spare corners and there is a very faint waft of coal or wood smoke. I noted more sandalwood and lighter fruit aromas than in previous batches. A dash of water does no harm but is not required. Palate: The arrival is soft and measured but builds to become a commanding presence with very fine texture. Mixed stewed fruit, some well-contained baking spices, chocolate, salted caramel and tobacco. The spice notes become a little warmer over time and black pepper and hot cinnamon are apparent, but the profile never loses balance. The texture becomes chewier as tannins come into play but once again balance is maintained by the presence of some foundation dark sugar. Finish: Medium/long. Dark fruit, leather and chocolate are the lingering tastes. This has been one of my favourite whiskies for a long time. I loved it immediately when I first tasted it almost 20 years ago as the “XVIII” expression bottled at 43%, and there was a bottle in the drinks cabinet more often than not for at least a decade. It became difficult to obtain after Distell acquired the distillery by merger in 2014 and it wasn’t until @Soba45 sent me a tasting sample 2 years ago that I became reacquainted with this excellent dram and remembered what I had been missing. That particular sample (probably from a 2017 or 2018 batch) was arguably the best this whisky has ever been and I enthusiastically rated it at 5 stars here. This recent tasting was of a late 2021 batch and although it is still a remarkable whisky, in comparison to batches from a few years ago it seemed just a fraction subdued and shy. However for me it was still the second best thing we tasted on the night, far eclipsing the other three Bunnahabhains on the card. All those (the 2022 Feis Ile Abhainn Araig, the 12 year old cask strength and the Aonadh 10 year old) exhibited youthful harshness (to my palate anyway) and tasting this wonderfully balanced and mature whisky was a blessed relief. The price is unfortunately starting to climb but it remains a must-taste dram for any enthusiast. “Excellent” : 88/100 (4.5 stars)

Nose: Sweet vanilla, light spice, lemongrass, Body: balanced taste, light taste of raisins, spice, vanilla. dark fruit Finish: long-lasting, sweet, spicy finish,

Pear notes and toffee on the nose. Spicy and sweet palate and finish. Really nice!

Fruty sweet aroma, some depth to it but tons of fruit. Raisins and peaches. Sweet smooth caramel and fruit on the tongue, creamy fire with a lengthy woody tail. Excellently crafted.