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.
went to my local liquor store to get highland park 12 year but they were out so ended up getting bunnahabhain 12 year and I have to say this is a wonderful dram. I saw Islay on the bottle and thought this was going to be very peaty but was pleasantly surprised. tastes slightly smoky but not peaty more of a charred wood smoke with a lot of herbal bitterness and a hint of seaweed. the sherry is there but not so much that it takes away from the other flavors . all in allost well rounded scotch I think I've had tastes like everything I love about scotch in one bottle . this will have a permanent spot in my whisky cabinet
Not as peaty as most other Islays. At first I was a little disappointed with the immediate taste lacking that classic taste of the sea, but the Bunna 12 has a great mouth feel with a smokiness that lingers with tastes of vanilla and honey almonds. It has a long finish, and when you add some water it really opens up some more of that peat/sea salt taste. Very affordable and is a great Islay for any newbies to this type of scotch.
I'm the first to say reviews should never ever be scrutinized. But anyone reading this needs to know that this is basically a non-peated whisky, very much the exception to the Islay "rule". In fact, Bunnahabhain brings in fresh spring water from the source to avoid any that may have run thru a bog, and uses low-phenolic malted barley. You obviously like your Islay peat, which is wonderful - I love them too - but saying Bunnahabhain tasted sherried is well... very correct! Sherry casks are employed at this distillery. Did you not see the tasting notes from the fine Chaps at Master of Malt? Having any dram let you down is never good. While you may be disappointed, I don't think it was the whisky's fault. Hopefully you can find it a good home!
I didn't like this scotch at all at first because of the sherry flavor. BUT I added a little water and tried it again. Water is key in bringing out the great flavors of this scotch. It has a very short finish, but is extremely smooth. There really isn't any smoke/peat flavor here...Bunnahabhain 12 has it's own flavor.
After reading all the reviews I was excited to add this to my 30 bottle collection of mostly Islay scotches. I was extremely disappointing since this tasted just like a sherried bourbon. I couldn't even get down one glass because of the awful flavor. I will stick with my Laphroaig, Lagavullin, Smokehead, Ledaig, Ardbeg, and Bowmore in my normal rotation.
