Bunnahabhain Burgundy Cask Finish 2005

Nose - Bit hot, red grape skins, dark chocolate, floral, salt, hint of hibiscus?, dark dried berries (w/ water) Reduced heat, dark chocolate covered red berries, salt Taste - Black peppercorns, grape skin tannins, dark chocolate, dark dried red berries, dried goji berries, honey, lightly herbal? (w/ water) Black peppercorns go away, more grape skin tannins, dark chocolate, dark dried red berries, herbal notes gone Finish - Lingering dried dark red berry sweet, dark chocolate bitter, lightly floral (w/ water) Same but floral notes go away Score - 89/100 Final Thoughts - This was tasty but did feel a bit hot without water. Water definitely was needed for this one as it helped tame the heat a bit and it actually helped remove some of the offputting notes I thought it had like this weird herbal note on the backend of the palate. This definitely picked up the Burgundy cask influence as it really had that red grape skin tannic note to it. This gives me vibes of dried cranberry/dried grape skins covered in dark chocolate. I have a feeling that this would pair with dark chocolate very well as it would help tame the tannic nature on the palate. Would I drink it if offered?* - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - Maybe NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

I poured myself two samples of Bunnahabhain special releases about 15 minutes ago and the whole room smells of it. If smell would be visible I imagine it releasing from the Glencairns like the vapor when you pour water over dry ice. Well, the cask strength helps for sure but it has been a while I had a fragrant whisky like this in my glass. The nose is wonderful cherries, honeydew melon, raspberry-sauce, stirred forest berries, super dark oak wood, milky coffee, then fresh spices, crispy caramel. A extremely lovely nose that is both charming and powerfully rich. A red wine character is definitely and properly present. But not exclusively- there is more - a lot more. The palate does fulfill the expectation of the nose. Quite dry at first with sour peaches, vanilla spice, fresh red chilis, then soft grape vinegar which slowly transition into a malty sweetness with nice roasted ground coffee notes as well. The finish is eyebrow-raising. Nice and super interesting. There is a somewhat unfamiliar note here. A bid like buttery cheesy crackers or puff pastry with oily parmesan. This becomes noticeable in the nose as well now. Really interesting and enjoyable. Then oak and the red wine in a lightly acidic spectrum at the peak. The nose after the fist sip becomes even better. Richer and more wide. The heat on the palate increases as well, which a bid of water levels out. Water does take out sweetness and leaves more ground for the dryness - but that doesn’t diminish the character of the whisky. In the end it comes around like an slightly unpolished diamond really. I like this untamed wildness embedded in sophisticated brackets. What a great whisky this is. Was. Sadly. But this assures me that I can safely invest in one of the Feis Ile bottles when one would come around for purchase.

Nose: Toffee, Vanilla, Peaches, Strawberries, Chocolate, Blackberries, Sea Salt, Brine, Minerals, Peaches, Lavender Palate: Chocolate, Strawberries, Raisins, Toffee, Flowers, Plums, Dates, Cherries, Blackberries, Meats Finish: Blackberries, Toffee, Dark Chocolate, Strawberries, Raspberries, Milk Chocolate