“Bunnahabhain & Friends” tasting at The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 15 June 2022. Whisky #4 Nose: Golden syrup, figs, prunes, liquorice, rum, leather, oak, soy sauce and some noticeable ethanol. It’s a wall of strongly sherry-cask driven aomas. Palate: After the intense nose, the palate has a surprisingly soft and gentle entry with dried fruits, malt extract, dark chocolate, salted mixed nuts, caramel, and espresso. The development starts suddenly with a hit of alcohol that is closely followed by emerging pepper and spice notes, tobacco, dark chocolate and bitter black coffee. The texture is dense and has an almost chewy quality. Finish: Medium/long. Dried fruits, coffee beans, dark chocolate, oak tannin. The texture becomes creamy in the aftertaste. This is a big whisky intended to appeal to lovers of intense sherry flavours at higher proof. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but that’s what it is. The profile is not particularly complex, but what is there is delivered at full volume and it does have balance, albeit a balance of heavy components. This is not just the regular 12 year old at higher proof. The casking is different and this expression contains noticeably more sherry (probably mainly oloroso but I would not be surprised if things have been spiced up by the addition of some PX). I diluted my tasting down to what I estimated was 46% and it tasted similar but different to the regular 12 year old, which is sweeter and shows more vanilla and lighter fruit. I enjoyed it equally both neat and diluted. I think, however that it would be fair to say that this whisky is how most enthusiasts (including me) would think the 12 year old *should* taste at cask strength. This all might sound like I did not like the dram but that’s not the case at all – I just don’t think it deserves the level of hype it has been receiving. It’s an agreeable whisky, but not outstanding. I almost bought a bottle. Is it twice as good as the regular 12? No. However it is more intense and has a larger personality. Is it worth almost twice the price? Yes, if the bold profile sounds like the sort of thing you enjoy and you like the 12 year old to start with then you will most likely find this delicious and consider it good value. I have the Bunnahabhain 12 and Stiùireadair expressions (which I consider different but equal) both at 83/100. This expression is "better" than those, but it does not quite seem like a "4 star" whisky to me. So ... “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)