Milliardo
Bunnahabhain 12 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
December 6, 2020 (edited February 24, 2021)
It’s 2020. It’s December. Let’s shut this year down with a brand new whiskey (or whisky) every day. It’s my own personal whiskey advent calendar. +6!
Dec. 6, 2020
I wanted to grab a whisky from the lists @Jan-Case and @PBMichiganWolverine provided, but of all those whiskies recommended, there was literally only one on the shelf at my go-to-place. This store does an exceedingly good job getting bourbons, including the allocated stuff, but I’m realizing the scotch section is actually pretty small. Supply and demand in Indiana, I suppose?
There are about half as many scotches available as there are rye whiskies, and there are at least 5 times as many bourbons. I think they may actually have more Japanese options than scotches, though most of them are locked up. Despite the odds, I was able to find this one scotch, a recommendation from @Jan-Case. Cheers! Also, I somehow already had a beautiful scotch glass from this distillery, and I have no idea how this happened.
Nose is faint. I’m having trouble with this one. It’s still grassy and sweet, so I’d say raisin and grain. Slight vanilla.
Body has cane sugar, caramel. It’s absurdly sweet. Desert sweet.
Finish hits with cinnamon and smoke. That cinnamon actually reminds me of bourbon, but an odd peat rising at the end (odd if this were a bourbon, that is).
This is strange. Nose of a Balvenie/Glenlivet, which I googled to discover they were both Speyside, body and finish of a low-heat bourbon with peat mixed in. I dig it.
This was from the Isle of Islay region, and I’m just starting to realize the relevance of this information when tasting scotches. I had always assumed this was a bourbon vs Tennessee whiskey territorial thing, but I’m reading that there’s a good deal more to it than that. Luckily (through genuine dumbass luck) the 4 scotches I recently bought come from 4 different regions. I’ve now tried Speyside, Islands, and Islay. Tomorrow will be Highlands!
‘Tis the season. I’m day-to-day on my whiskey selection, so if you’re reading this and there’s something readily available out there you’d like me to enjoy/suffer through this holiday season, leave it in the comments. Merry whiskey to all, and to all a beer flight!
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@Milliardo great—-just wrote you.
@Jan-Case @cascode I will try these tips, I really appreciate it!
@cascode @Jan-Case Bunny 12 does need to be tasted at its own terms doesn’t it? But such a rewarding experience if you do.
@Milliardo i have 3 bottles open ( almost finished though) of JW Blue Rare Brora, Talisker 8 2020 Special Release, and one last pour of the inaugural Ardnamurchan 9:20. I’d be happy to send these over if you want to get them on your December tasting. Let me know if you’re interested. (Just cover about $12 shipping to Indiana )
@Milliardo I’d second the comment by @Jan-Case that Bunnahabhain, and this one in particular, needs time to rest. With or without water let it sit and relax (with a cover) for 10-20 minutes – no need to hurry. Let yourself forget it was even poured and then come back to it after a good while – you will be surprised how it develops. There are whiskies that have easy “hooks” like heavy smoky ones and highly fragrant fruity ones. This Bunny 12 is of the “austere” and aloof type of oloroso sherry finished dram that has a heap of character but a reserved manner. You have to make friends on its terms, not yours, but it's a friendship worth making.
Nice. Two things. First of all this whisky is one of those that opens up when it has been open for a while when your are past the neck pour. Also, Bunnahabhain whisky needs one or two drops of water in the glass that you should let breathe then for about 10 minutes or more (if you can resist). Slainte Mhath