Bunnahabhain 18 Year

Thar be a tale on a pirate ship in sail, of a cabin boy's wish to be a seaman prevail. 'Welp!' the captain said to thee, 'yer nar but a sea gull amongst the albatross. If seaman you wish to be, then a bottle of Bunny 18 for me!' Thus my quest began, with regular Google searches for months on end. Nowhere in the 50 states, was there a reasonable deal to had. Until one day, a store in Jersey City appeared on the map. One week and 2,800 miles later, tin and all, the bottle was delivered - quite handsome, none too tall. N: Aromas of butterscotch and brown sugar, alluringly balanced and nested in a sherry envelope. Peck away at the glass, and you're rewarded with hints of cherries and even citrus, emerging from the oak. P: The progression in the palate is best captured by @cascode as, "It arrives dry and spicy" with the sweet notes later providing "equilibrium". (His review here provides the best flavor profile and helped guide my palate experience.) Supple, long-aged sherry, toffee, sweet tobacco and fruitcake with an intense mouthfeel. (This is almost a quote verbatim.) After successive tipples, the palate further unveils oranges, chocolate milk, and a chewy nuttiness. F: Surprisingly long finish of dried red and citrus fruits. The texture is a tad leathery, but that is a welcome addition - proof that this is a mature expression and worth every sip. The finish just lingers on and on. What a journey! Not too dynamic - the bandwidth of contrasts is narrower than say the Ardbeg Oogie or Lag 16 - but everything in the palate works well together to offer a scotch that is sweetly complex and delightful. Indeed, I'm eagerly awaiting further development as it oxidizes with time. After the first dram, I stood up and shook my fist at the bottle, and to paraphrase @Soba45, I exclaimed, 'I know who you are, Bunny 18! You are here to destroy my liver!'

Nose: sherry a lot, smells like Porto wine, vanilla caramel, apricots, oak, chocolate

No water needed. Smooth

Sherry, a little more sherry plus a hint of sherry. Coats the mouth nicely, sweet and salty toffee. Finishes fruity, short dry sourness.

Salty and maritime. Delicate Sherry influence and good smoke. Much more green and marine than the 12 year old. Round and oily in mouth with delicate pepper finish. Quite different from the 12 year old, which I prefer.