The fantastic flagship from Bunnahabhain (pronounced boo-na-ha-ven), launched as the distillery's original single malt in 1979, this Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old. It is aged in a mixture of bourbon and sherry casks and, since a relaunch in 2010, has been bottled at a big 46.3% ABV without chill-filtration or additional colouring. Very impressive. Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old is unpeated, unlike most Islay whisky, but has a beautiful coastal quality complemented by its fruity, light, sweet and nutty character. It’s one of those whiskies that newcomers and enthusiasts alike appreciate.
Read more about Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old on our blog.
Fresh, sweet, and a little floral. There’s seaweed, rich malt, dried fruit, camphor, caramel, chocolate orange, and apple poached in cinnamon.
Soft and supple with a nutty, sherried quality leading among vanilla, marmalade, sultanas, and a bright coastal element.
Mochaccino, dried herbs, Christmas cake spice, and a balanced salty tang.
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First impression is a smooth sherried sweetness, quite complex as fruit appears, and despite not as peaty as its southern Islay cousins you can still close your eyes and taste the rocky salty shoreline.
I should add to previous review, I've been spending the evening doing some tasting comparisons across several islay expressions, and I've finally got to compare this to Oogie. Whilst it's not as big, there are lots of similarities maybe. The Bunnahabain is more gently peated of course and the initial hit on the palate is gentler, but the sweet sherry hit is also adding to the serenity. I'd almost go ad far to say that the bunnahabain is a softer mire gentle version of Oogie. All I know is that the more I drink it, the more I like it!
Spotted this lounging next to the A'bunadh that I'd set out to buy, quick look at MoM reviews and figured worth a try for £30. Holy mackerel it's good! It's nothing like my go to Islay collection of Ardbegs and Laphroaigs, but it's so well balanced and such complexity! The 46% abv helps to avoid overpowering the palate, so those fruit flavours shine through with a mild peat background going on. I really enjoyed some Bowmore 15 samples recently, and nearly bought some, but I much prefer this. At this price it's fantastic value, forget buying a supermarket superstar, for the extra tenner this blows their socks off.
Nose - Creamy vanilla fudge, soft camomile, some floral notes, green fruits, apple, subtle pear, very faint smoke. Pallet - toasted walnuts, some vanilla sweetness, earl grey tea note?, some sour grape (red), rounded yet spicy sherry - Finish - brine with some unground black pepper.
For me the best 12yr aged malt on the market . The best £40 you can spend if that's your budget.
