This is the first Bunnahabhain in the Elements of Islay series. It’s a peated version from an otherwise unpeated Islay distillery.
Nose: peated, no doubt. Rather deep smoke with a hint of rubber. Very sweet too: big notes of honey and quite some vanilla, which make this a nicely warm and rounded nose. Sweet apples. Citrus candy. Almonds. Soft medicinal notes in the background. Mouth: big and oily with punchy peat again. That same hint of rubber to start off, quickly overtaken by sweet apple and pear (makes me think it’s not too old). Lemon. Big pepper, a little ginger and a few briny hints towards the end. Finish: rather long and smoky with notes of salty liquorice and citrus zest.
This Bunnahabhain is fairly simple but packed with punch and it features a lovely nose. Even though peated spirit is not its core business, Bunnahabhain sure knows how to present this style. Check it out if you like a young, peaty profile.
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