Bunnahabhain 12
When I tried Bunnahabhain 12 for the first time, it blew my mind. It was one of the best whiskies at the beginning of my whisky-journey.
Of course, with time, there had been better, even a lot better drams. However, every time I come back to Bunnahabhain 12, it brings me a lot of pleasure. Has anything changed about it? Let’s find out.
Bunnahabhain 12
Bunnahabhain means „Foot of the River”
Scotch Single Malt
Region: Islay
12 years old
46.3% ABV
Minimally peated, about 3 PPM
Aged in ex-bourbon and sherry casks
Un-chill filtered
Color: amber +1, natural, without the addition of caramel
Tasting notes
Nose: the very same beauty as it used to be. Vanilla, caramel, orange peel, flowers (peonies), smoke, sherry, prunes, fresh figs cooked in wine, air mattress. Alcohol well covered. The aroma is delicate but so beautiful that the distillery could sell this whisky as a perfume! Nothing dominates here, and the composition is brilliant. 22/25
Palate: Unlike the aroma, the taste is incredibly intense and expressive. The combination of sweetness and dryness enveloped in a delicate mist of peat smoke. Honey, dried cranberry, caramel nuts, plum jam, vanilla, dark chocolate, roasted almonds, bitter orange. Alcohol, just like the smell, sensationally hidden. 22/25
Finish: walnuts, ash, raisins, maple syrup, prunes, sherry, lemongrass. 22/25
Balance: that’s how I remembered it. Once a podium, today … still very high on the ranking, when it comes to basic editions of the distillery bottlings. Despite such a small amount of peat smoke, it is noticeable and very pleasant. It beautifully blends in with the whole. Beautiful aroma, brilliant taste, long finish, natural color, raised ABV, un-chill filtered whisky. Oh, how I love it. 23/25
Overall: 89/100
Other reviews
Price: usually around EUR 40-45. The price-quality ratio almost forces us to get it. I gave in to temptation. Several times 😁
I highly recommend it.
More photos here
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