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.
Just plain delicious. What more can be said. Can't imagine a better whisky for the price . . . and even for double the price. I am a Highland Park 12 lover (as well as several Islays) and this is right up there with the best of the best. Glad I discovered it.
Stunning quality and complexity at this age and price. An Islay malt which deserves much more attention. Add a little water and you'll be in malt heaven.
I am now half way through my second bottle of this amazing whisky. There is bags of flavour and for me it has just the right amount of peaty smoke. I love its sweet salty fruit freshness and the darker complex sherry undertones. One of those rare drams that you can't be without and great value bottled at over 46%.
Sweet and hint of liqourice root. Warm and comforting
While I agree with many that Bunnahabhain 12 seems to have just a touch of peat, which melds perfectly with this sherry bomb of a whisky, according to the distillery it is actually unpeated. I struggle to believe it because it means all that smoky flavor in it comes purely from the wood.
