Review #79 Bunnahabhain 12yr: Scotch

Score: 8.2 / 10

Distillery: Bunnahabhain

Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch

Nestled somewhere in this photo...... Oh there it is! Little Bunnahabhain 12yr shooter!

I can't believe it has taken me this long to explore Bunna 12? Believe it or not, the only other experience I have with Bunna is an Alexander Murray 26 year that I snagged from Costco for $90 a couple years back. I enjoyed the 26 year, so I figured it was time I sampled their core expression.

A little later to the Islay game. Bunnahabhain was founded in 1881 and named after the village that was used to house it's workers.

Bunnahabhain is specifically known for being one of the lighter single malt whiskeys of the 9 active distilleries on the isle of Islay. It's tastes can very wildly from what people may associate with this region. Let's see what we are diving into and if it sparks any interest in you as well.

Whiskey Review:

Nose: Sweet and fruity with a touch of smoke. Green grapes, kiwi, passion fruit and a dollop of honey.

Palate: Oily, but turns creamy quickly. Lots of cascading waves of honey, vanilla and red apple that builds into a light but tingling cinnamon spice with oak on the back-end. Some lemon citrus can be found in between notes of spice and wood.

Finish: Leaves plenty of dry oak, orange rind and a hint of burnt honey. Moderate in length and mildly tannic. The dryness at the end reminds me of eating a Saltine cracker.

Score: 8.2

Scale:

S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)

A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)

B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)

C - competent (7-7.9)

D - disappointing (6-6.9)

F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)

Notes: Availability? Common. Should be found in any decent Scotch section. If you're looking to dive in to a starter scotch without breaking the bank, this one might be right up your alley.