Review by: The Muskox

I get the idea with Gaelic names, but come on. Aren’t they trying to sell a product? Who let them name their whisky something THIS unpronounceable? Ok, rant over.

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Distillery: Bunnahabhain.

Bottler: Official bottling.

Region: Islay.

ABV: 46.3%.

Age: No age statement.

Cask type: First-fill and second-fill sherry casks.

Price: $80 CAD.

Color: Light gold. Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

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Nose: Fairly sweet, with some of that typical Bunna richness. Honey, cereals, candied nuts, cinnamon, shortbread, and maple butter. The fruit is playing more of a supporting role, here. There’s white cherry, lemon, and apple (cider vinegar), with more typical sherry notes taking some time to emerge. A bit of a savoury note here too: soy sauce and a bit of cooked vegetable.

Palate: Soft and light texture with a bit of heat. Pear, lychee, and honey up front, developing into green grapes and mild tropical fruit. A good amount of black pepper in the middle, as well as fresh-cut lumber and vanilla. A bit of seaweed, then, finally, raisins.

Finish: Light. Melon, nuts, vanilla, honey, and seaweed.

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Conclusion: This has got to be either 1) aged in almost entirely refill casks, or 2) extremely young, or likely both. I really didn’t get a whole lot of sherry notes. The nose is nice, but it’s just too light everywhere else. It’s got that Bunnahabhain character we all love, but it’s too young and thin to be very compelling. If you’re a fan of the 12, and this is coming to replace it in your area, I’d start stocking up on the 12 now.

Final Score: 77.

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.