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.
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.
A dreamy little drink, nice fruity notes and it's fast becoming a favourite of mine.
Not too smoky but with a nice finish. A little bit of harshness but I added a drop of water and this did the trick to help bring out the softer flavours without losing that nice of touch smokiness.
Soft with corinth rasins, vanilla & just a smidge of costal sea water. Water softens it even more & the vanilla comes to the front. Smoke / peat? didnt get much, if any. The lighter side of Islay.
I still remember how disappointed I was, as a single malt neophyte many years ago, trying this for the first time and finding it wasn’t the Islay smoke bomb I expected. However nowadays I find this is the Islay malt I find myself turning back to, more often than its peated kin. It lacks smoke but is just as complex and delicious as the best the island has to offer.
I bought a bottle of this on offer on Amazon. I will not be buying again. It lacks flavour and depth and has a sharp, rancid bite around the edges of the tongue. No detectable peat or smoke. There are blended whiskies available for around half the price, that are far superior all around.
