Bunnahabhain 18 Year

Holy moly!!! The smoke. The candy flavours. Well played.

I really enjoyed the 12 year old, this one was a disappointment. It comes in at almost 3 times the price as well.

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.

“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 few drops of water do no harm but are 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. One of my favourite whiskies. I loved it immediately on first tasting it many years ago, but it wasn’t until @Soba45 sent me a tasting sample in 2020 that I became reacquainted with it and remembered what I had been missing. That particular sample (probably from a 2017 or 2018 batch) was arguably the best the whisky has ever been, and I enthusiastically rated it at 5 stars here [note: my review of it appears below]. This current tasting is of a late 2021 batch and although it is still impressive, in comparison to batches from a few years ago it is a little lacking in refinement. Nevertheless, 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 obvious youthful harshness and tasting this superior whisky was a blessed relief. The price is unfortunately starting to climb but it remains a must-taste dram for any enthusiast. “Very Good” : 87/100 (4.25 stars) ----------------------------------------------------------- Original Distiller reviewed, posted April 24, 2020 Nose: A welcoming, enfolding cloak of sherry and oak wraps around you as you deeply inhale the aromas of a faultless Christmas cake. Dark malt, dried fruit and sweet roasted nuts (hazelnut and toasted almond) with rich leather aromas. There's a sly note of lemon zest in the background as well as a reminiscence of smoke and waxed furniture, but it's not like a typical "smoky" whisky. This is like sitting in front of a roaring fire on a cold night where 99% of the fumes are combusting and just a skerrick of smoke escapes to your nostrils. As it continues to unfold minty notes and caramel toffee emerge. [The dry-glass aroma is fruitcake with a hint of charcoal]. Palate: The taste of liquified oloroso sherry cask, chocolate toffee, sweet tobacco and fruitcake. Deep, resounding and malty with a texture that is creamy, chewy and perfectly balanced between sweetness and astringincy. It arrives dry and spicy but sweet fruity notes, vanilla and warming muscovado sugar instantly spring forth to provide equilibrium. There is the tiniest hint of salt and it coats the mouth with ecstasy. Finish: Very long. The warming, dense sweet malt character subsides slowly into a sweet oak aftertaste. This is a magnificently expressive whisky. It's some years since I last tasted it - why have I waited so long? The progression from the malty arrival through to the oaky aftertaste is a joy every time. The nose is similar to old Glenfarclas but the palate is less austere. This whisky fairly flings itself out of the glencairn into your face with joie de vivre. There's very little more to say. It really is a desert island dram and you need to taste this whisky at least once on your journey (and you may well decide not to continue but just settle down with an 18 year old Bunny - ahem). It's one of those excellent drams that always leaves you thinking "why do I bother drinking anything else?". Many thanks to @Soba45 for sending me the tasting sample, and reminding me of what I'd forgotten. I've just this moment tried to order a bottle but alas, there is none in the country. Please Bunnahabhain, send us another allocation. "Outstanding" : 90/100 (5 stars) [AUD$250 in 2020] -----------------------------------------------------------