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Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old XXV

Mature Chocolate

0 393

@MaltActivistReview by @MaltActivist

24th Sep 2014

0

  • Nose
    24
  • Taste
    23
  • Finish
    23
  • Balance
    23
  • Overall
    93

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Bunnahabhain represent the lighter side of peat on Islay. That's because the distilleries water is piped down from streams on the Margdale Hills and is considered less peaty than most water used for distilling on Islay.

Bunnahabhain also hold the distinction of being one of the few distilleries founded in the 'whisky boom' of the 1920s and to still be around today.

I've had a few Bunnas in my time (the 12, 18, Darch Ur, Toiteach and now the 25) and find that they carry a similar thread in both the nose and palate. Must be those consistently good sherry casks they employ.

This 25-year-old release runs to just 400 bottles and comes presented in an Alder wooden box lined with Hessian and closed with solid brass fittings.

Nose: Robust sherry. Quite dry on the nose. Chocolate fudge. Moist dates. Sandalwood. Dark honey. Nice oak. Wisp of smoke. Salty Nuts. An absolutely gorgeous nose that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Palate: Medium bodied. Orange fudge. Ginger. Cinnamon. Butterscotch toffees. The oak dries a touch mid-palate. Nougat. And the moist dates are back. I expected it to be a lot more creamier, though.

Finish: Satisfyingly long. Cinnamon. Chocolate.

There's a lovely maturity to this spirit and the flavors work seamlessly together. Add to this the great presentation box and you almost don't mind shelling out 200GBP for it.

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3 comments

@Robert99
Robert99 commented

@MaltActivist I only have the 12 yo myself and a cabbage note prevented me from buying any other Bunnas. I talked with other malt enthusiasts and there was a few who find the same cabbage notes. But reading all the nice reviews, I am wondering if I should give it an another try. So, did you ever encounter this cabbage or heard of it. I even know a guy who told me this flavor is part of the core of Bunnas. I have to know because reading your review, I am salivating. In any case great review.

9 years ago 0

@MaltActivist
MaltActivist commented

@Robert99 I suspect you may have gotten a bad batch of the 12. I've had quite a number of 12s and found the nose quite nice. The 18 even more so and this 25 the best of the lot in my opinion.

Don't let one expression spoil the rest of the lineup for you.

And thanks for stopping by!

9 years ago 0

@MadSingleMalt
MadSingleMalt commented

@MaltActivist , what's "source" (pardon the pun) on the claim here that the distillery's water source is responsible for the lower-than-Islay-standard peat levels?

6 years ago 0

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