Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old is a rich, complex beauty who has spent nearly two decades lounging in a mix of sherry and bourbon casks, soaking up all the good stuff. Bottled at 46.3% ABV without chill-filtration or added colouring (because why mess with perfection?), it serves up layers of sweet, fruity, and savoury deliciousness.
Salted caramel leading to sticky toffee pudding sprinkled with nutmeg. With time a leathery quality emerges.
Dense, rich sherried notes perked up with a coastal saltiness. On a second wave roast chestnuts emerge and gentle wood spice.
Woodspice becomes mixed spice. The finish is warming and lengthy; salt and sherry towards the very end.
Bunnahabhain without chill-filtration is dense and oily and shows off its sherried credentials with ease.
Can't go wrong with this. One of the best!
Fantastic
In comparison to the 12 year bottle, I enjoyed the 18 less. It was very smooth, But I missed some of the interesting notes of the 12 year. The 18 was a little muted. The 18 was a sample.
A scotch drinker for the past 40+ years, I have long favored the more "chewy" full-bodied Islay single malts. I had never heard of Bunnahabhain 18, however, until receiving it as a magnificently surprising gift. An early afternoon sip (just to see if it was any good) left a most welcome, mellow yet full-bodied aftertaste that was still present hours later. I recommend it to anyone who appreciates full-bodied Islay scotch.
How can it get better than this? Obviously personal taste is the final arbiter but this is rich, mellow, tarry, oaky, balsam for the mouth. I have over 60 whiskies in my collection including greats from Highland Park, Arran, Talisker, Oban, The Macallan, The Glenlivet, Caol Ila, Bruichladdich,........I could go on. What a whisky. I am going back to my supplier on Monday and will buy his entire stock. I never want to be without this fabulous taste as long as I live. I don't care about the price.
