Bunnahabhain 18 Year

Nose - Ripe plums, decadent spiced fruit cake, hints of dark chocolate and coffee, bananas foster. Taste - Heavily spiced fruitcake dominates, bit thin mouthfeel, dark toasted barley, chocolate/coffee granola, dark dried fruits, very fain wisp of campfire smoke. Finish - Lingering spiced fruitcake again, lightly drying but still thin, nice white pepper heat lingers, light campfire smoke is still present, almost like a lightly smoked honeyed almond. Score - 94/100 Final Thoughts - Like it's younger brother, this is an amazing Scotch. It's got an amazing nose that really screams "enjoy by the wood burning fireplace during Christmas time." Wonderfully sherried without being too overly sweet. A tiny hint of dry campfire smoke which I can tolerate unlike the wet iodine/rubber peat/smoke I get from other Islays. Wonderfully balanced, and reasonably priced for an 18 year old Scotch.

Sweeter and more mellow than one might expect from an islay malt. Smoke on the mid and back pallet. 4/5