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90-95
Bunnahabhain 125th Anniversary bottling, 35 year old, 1971 Vintage (cask sample)
This whisky, which will be comprised of three sherry casks, will be bottled later this year to celebrate the distillery's 125th anniversary. This cask sample is very stylish and perfectly balanced, with aromas of a candy store. Notes of creamy nougat, fluffy caramel, and glazed oranges are the main components, with a toasty, nutty finish. An effortlessly soothing dram and very satisfying. I'm told there will only be approximately 400 bottles total. It has the potential of being the best Bunnahabhain bottled in recent memory.
(2nd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#2)
94
Bunnahabhain, 35 year old, 1971 vintage, 44.9%, $700
Bottled to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the distillery. Classic Bunnahabhain-toffeed and quite nutty. Almost rummy in nature, with rich molasses notes throughout and layers of sweetness. Some salt emerges on occasion, as do notes of honey, coconut, and candied fruit, with a pleasingly dry, gently spicy finish to round everything out. Surprisingly youthful for its age, nicely balanced, and very drinkable. A great Bunnahabhain!
(4th Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#4)
92
Signatory (distilled at Bunnahabhain), 27 year old, 1978 vintage, 54.4%, $200
Chewy toffee, chocolate fudge with nuts, and candied berries are the defining characteristics of this lovely Islay dram. Dates, rum, and polished oak round out the palate. A clean, beautifully balanced, after-dinner delight.
(1st Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#1)
92
Bunnahabhain 18 year old, 43%, $95
Creamier than the 12-bigger too, with broader shoulders and greater depth. Fairly sweet up front, with vanilla-laced malt, chewy toffee, and ripe fruit. Almond fudge and a hint of espresso add intrigue, while dry wood spice on the finish underpins the whisky's characteristic sweetness. Contemplative and complex.
(2nd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#2)
91
Scott's Selection (distilled at Bunnahabhain, 1969, 40.1%)
Gold color with amber hues. Mature aromas of toffee and nuts, marzipan and candied fruit. Medium body and chewy in texture. A very mature whisky with evolutions of flavors-toffee, caramel, fudge, nuts, fruitcake, and a long finish that dries out very nicely.
Style: Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Price: approx. $130. Available nationwide (imported by Scott's Selection, 860/677-0473).
Older expressions of Bunnahabhain are often quite delicious, and this one is no exception. The dryness of the oak balances perfectly with the sweeter toffee notes of the whisky, and the extra age imparts considerable depth.
(4th Quarter 2000 Issue-Vol. 9#4)
90
Duncan Taylor (distilled at Bunnahabhain), 36 year old, 1967 vintage, 40.2%, $160
Older expressions of this unpeated Islay dram are often quite delicious, but they aren't easy to come by. The best ones, like this one, take the sweetish toffee/nutty foundation of younger expressions and add layers of depth and complexity. This whisky just continues to evolve on the palate. The entrance is creamy in texture with layers of sweetness (caramel, vanilla fudge, toffee), becoming nutty and marzipan-like with subtle background fruit. The finish is long and pleasingly dry, with a hint of salt. Very entertaining and satisfying.
(1st Quarter 2005 Issue-Vol. 14#1)
90
Bunnahabhain 25 year old, 43%, $265
Nougat and dates to the fore, then becoming increasingly nutty with suggestions of Demerara rum and cinnamon and underlying polished leather. Lovely dried spice notes and an appetizing salty tang teases the palate on the finish.
(2nd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#2)
90 Signatory (distilled at Bunnahabhain), Cask #2540, 27 year old, 1978 vintage, 54.4%, $200
Very fragrant on the nose, and thick on the palate. The flavors are chock full of thick chewy toffee, chocolate fudge, roasted nuts, burnt raisin, black currant, and spiced oak. There’s a hint of salt and Earl Grey tea on the finish. Very dynamic.
(3rd Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#3)
87
Bunnahabhain 12 year old, 43%, $48
Vanilla fudge, barley grist, fresh sea spray, berries, and nuts all integrated nicely. A gentle, comforting dram that accommodates many moods and situations.
(2nd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#2)
80-85
Bunnahabhain Pedro Ximenez finish, 14 year old, single cask (cask sample)
This is a cask sample of what will be sold at the distillery for the Islay Whisky Festival in May. Pedro Ximinez is an intensely dark, sweet sherry. This whisky is pleasantly rich on the palate, with suggestions of dates and fruit cake, with significant port influence. A nice change of pace, but it wouldn't be my regular dram. (Incidentally, I also tasted a cask sample of an amazingly fresh, appetizingly salty Manzanilla-finished Bunnahabhain. I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes a limited release for 2007.)
(2nd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#2)
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