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Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old

Underrated staple

2 488

WReview by @Wierdo

30th Dec 2018

0

  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Balance
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  • Overall
    88

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

This is my third bottle of Bunnahabhain 12. I've had one of the older 40% abv bottles and 2 of the newer craft presentation offerings. I've always been happy with the bottle.

Nose

Lovely nose. Oranges, honey, cocoa, some dried fruit, toffee

Palate

Similar to the nose. Salted caramel, fruit and nut chocolate, bonfire toffee.

Finish

The finish is more of the same with oranges and a slight salty note at the end.

This whisky falls into the cracks a bit I feel and as a result is overlooked. It's not a sherry bomb. It's an Islay but it's not a peat monster and it doesn't have the pomp and ceremony of Bruichladdich. But it is quite complex for it's age. Needs some time in the glass to get the most from it. It's a really good solid, enjoyable whisky. Well put together. Everything works well. No rough edges. No off notes. Nothing out of place.

It's very reasonably priced (in the UK at least)

A favourite.

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4 comments

@RianC
RianC commented

A good assessment @Wierdo. I've only had one bottle of the craft one a few years back but I did like it and agree that it 'slips in the crack' somewhat. My bottle was nippy to start but as it got air it blossomed into a gorgeous figgy, salty and slightly peaty whisky - lovely colour too. I have another in the stash and may have to open it when I'm next in need of a reliable sherried style with character. Usually very good value at Waitrose, for some reason?!

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Hewie
Hewie commented

I finished off a bottle of this at the start of this year I think. I haven't bought another yet but I definitely will. I agree it's a very well made and presented whisky. The things that stand out in my memory are the 'real' sherry influence of dried fruits interwoven with cooking spices. Not one that comes up in discussions about sherry bombs but a range of sherry notes were very pronounced to me. I'd love to try their 18YO and some of their peated and CS stuff - there seems to be an ongoing string of unpronounceable bottlings coming out from Bunnahabhain now. I don't mind it being underrated - it is always a pleasant surprise for those who haven't tried it before.

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC commented

@Hewie - 'the 'real' sherry influence of dried fruits interwoven with cooking spices'

Well put. It definitely didn't have any of that sherry syrup flavour that I'm not keen on.

5 years ago 0

@RianC
RianC commented

@Wierdo - Nice photo choice as well for this. A few big steps in that direction and the giant's almost there smile

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

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