SpartaTodd
Bunnahabhain 12 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
December 9, 2019 (edited January 4, 2020)
Wow, how does this have an 84 on Distiller? I really enjoy this whisky. It checks all the boxes: inexpensive (check), stronger abv (46.3, check), non-chill filtered (check), no coloring (check). It has a lot going on for a young Islay. It is not heavily peated which is nice but has a very slight touch of spicy smoke maybe. It is fruity, nutty and smells very nice. When you hold it on your tongue its like a little explosion of flavors. I get a lot of citrus and brine. The finish is easy and malty. I am a fan. This is how whisky should be. I wish that everyone would go the no-coloring and no-chill filtering way (Hello Diageo). This is working its way into my regular rotation.
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I really enjoy this stuff and Im pining for the 18 yr
What I have heard in the case of Highland Park 12 and 18 is that 10-20 years ago their stock was better, possibly with older stock involved. It may well have been the incredible whisky that the ratings say but certainly it has tailed off in the last 5 years+ This seems to have happened to more than one distiller. I look at the date of the review and the person doing it (@BROOKLYNWINO seems very consistent) but I always look at the crowdsourced user rating (more the better, less than 20 doesn't tell me much). Alternatively there could be lots of batch variation from year to year with some of these smaller distilleries. I wish that they would return to reviewing some of them after they are 5 years old or more whenever possible.
@Whiskylonghorn agreed, Ive tried the Highland Park 18, while it was ok it hardly deserved top ratings. Distillers ratings system is hardly unified, which is why I put far more stock in the ratings of individuals I follow
Somewhat hope and doubt price is factored into scores. 84 still seems low here, but these "experts" aren't really worth following imo.
Taste is very subjective I guess. Instead what I do is follow a few folks here that I think share the same tastes as I do.
I think that a lot of the earlier reviews on the page are a bit distinct. This one and the Glendronach 18 both got an 84, which is ridiculous. Deanston 12 got a 79! At the same time, the 99 for Highland Park 18 seems a bit overinflated. Taste is subjective I suppose...