Bunnahabhain 18 Year

Quite tasty. Very much like Johnnie Walker Blue Label without the hint of smoke. Not at all like a typical Islay Scotch.

👃Garlic ripe banana brown sugar 👅marmelade coffee chocolate liqourice Dry finish, garlicy coffee is pronounced all the way

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/]

This one has been on my list for something to try for a long time. Gratefully I have a brother that was kind enough to provide me a sample from his bottle to try. On the nose, there’s a rich sherry quality to this one with golden raisins, peaches, oranges, apricots, leading to a rich caramel, old polished oak, dark maple syrup, candied cinnamon almonds, a meaty quality - not Islay smoked meats but more like a bacon jam, and ocean sea salt. The taste starts with a sherry richness with creamy maple syrup mouthfeel and a hint of ocean sea salt before leading to a rich caramel with fruits of orange, raisin, peaches, a dark chocolate with pieces of candied bacon, cinnamon almonds, barrel spices with cracked black pepper and medium oak tannins in the background and the finish is long and lingers with the sherry flavors of golden raisins, caramel, smooth oakiness, and black pepper spice. I just had the Bunnahabhain 25 not that long ago and where that one was very polished, it was much softer and more refined than this. But I actually like this one more as there is a lot going on and the flavors come on strong, where the 25 is more subtle. I’ve heard other people say that some of the best Islay whisky is usually in the teens and I feel the same way since most Islay whisky drinkers aren’t looking for a soft and delicate spirit, but more of a powerhouse of flavor. This one is also a much better VFM at $140 compared to the massive price of the 25 at over $700.

Nose: dried fruits in dark syrup, liquid malt, cocoa, sweet cough juice, mint, sour blood oranges, apricots, raisins, milk chocolate, cold tea, fresh autumn leaves, an open old book / old paper, dry exotic spices, caramelized nuts - a fantasticly balanced mix, rich and powerful Palate: ground coffee / roasted wood, cereal with dehydrated berries, citrus, a little bitter dried fruits (dates but not as sweet) Finish: oak forward and slightly smoky (not peaty but more like cask-char), dry orchard fruits, I had this whisky before as a sample about a year ago. And I knew that I had to get a bottle sometimes. Then it was sold out for many months and as soon as they were restocked I pulled the trigger. This is simply a very nice whisky. Easy to drink but very exiting and flavorful. A lot to discover in the wide palette of flavors and aromas. It is rich and deep and “dark”. Extremely well put together and balanced. I love it. A great whisky to share because it feels like it can be enjoyed by a wide range of whisky lovers.