“Bunnahabhain & Friends” tasting at The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 15 June 2022. Whisky #7 Nose: Soft coal smoke, evocative oak, oloroso sherry, dark cherries, dusky orchard fruits, a dab of creosote and leathery notes in the background. Exquisite integration. Palate: Earthy malt arrival, ginger, cinnamon and white pepper with coal and wood smoke. There is a sweet, dark malty core to the palate together with mild sweet/spice chutney flavours and these are balanced by the soft but enveloping smoke. It has a sublime oily texture. Finish: Medium/long and very slow. Sweet lemon, hot spices, oak tannin and licorice. A wonderful whisky that captures my senses with its "clean-but-grimy" personality every time I taste it. I’m not sure what it is about this particular expression, but it has everything I enjoy about mildly peated west-coast highland malts, and it has a more than passing similarity to Longrow. I first tasted this not long ago (March 3rd 2022) from a sample. At the time I rated it at 4.25 and immediately ordered a bottle. Since then I’ve had two more tastings, one at a friend’s house and the third last night at the “Bunnahabhain & Friends” event. There is not much to add to my original review, so I’ve just put some summary tasting notes here. What tells you much more is that after the tasting I sprinted to the sales counter and bought 2 further bottles of this very good whisky for the stash. Given the reasonable asking price I may buy some more, if I can find the same batch. I love this stuff. “Excellent” : 88/100 (4.5 stars) --------------------------------------------------- [Reviewed from March 3, 2022] Nose: Soft coal smoke and cask aromas – like the smell of an oak dresser that has been in a room with an open fireplace for many years. Sweet winey aromas from the sherry cask, dark cherries, dusky orchard fruits, a dab of creosote and some leathery notes in the background. The nose is beautifully integrated with a succulent and enticing quality. Palate: An earthy, grimy arrival that is quite delightful. Ginger, cinnamon and white pepper with whorls of the same oaken smoke from the nose curling around the tongue. There is a sweet, almost confectionery hint but the development mainly constitutes a continuation of the arrival as the pervading smoky character gradually takes over the palate. Lovely texture, a touch of oily asphalt but only trace rubbery notes. Finish: Medium/long and very gradual. That development on the palate progresses slowly into a celtic twilight with citrus, hot spices, oak tannin and liquorice as the last hurrah. A very nice whisky indeed. It has elements in common with Bunnahabhain 18 and there is more than a passing similarity to Longrow. It's certainly a lot more like a west coast/Campbeltown malt than an Islay. This is a big meaty dram that can be mulled over (hah, see what I did there 😋) for a good long time and will repay relaxed contemplation. It responds well to water which softens the profile and develops sweetness, but I thought it was pretty much perfect neat. Tasted from a 20 ml sample, and I just ordered a full-size bottle for the stash. “Very Good” : 87/100 (4.25 stars)