Price: £72.00
ABV: 46.3%
Chill Filtered: No
Natural Colour: Yes
Supplier: Whisky Gallore
Description: The Bunnahbhain 18 yr Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is now enjoying its full potential as the re-introduced unchill-filtered spirit: a transformation that has excited connoisseurs across the globe. The eighteen-year journey of this whisky commences in a place that captivates the heart with its breathtaking views out into the vast expanse of water that is the Sound of Islay, almost hidden in the remote north-eastern corner of this magical isle. For nearly two decades this wonderful 'uisge beatha' absorbs the sea air that surrounds the distillery. This charming single malt is unequivocally inviting , with a gentle taste profile that makes it quite distinct from many other Islay whiskies.
General Comments: I love Bunnahabhain; which means that I am both extremely bias and extremely critical towards a bottling such as the 18 yr Old. Over the last two years I have bought more bottles of Bunnahbain than any other whisky due to the combination of outstanding quality and; as it remains the relatively unloved Islay distillery as the consumer demand for peaty whisky continues to expand, the price. I have drank three bottles of Bunnahabhain 18 yr Old in the last nine months, and each time it was a significantly different whisky; part of the problem is that there doesn't seem to be much of the spirit's characteristics that comes through, and therefore the wood seems to have far greater influence.
At it's best however, this is a fantastical whisky in many ways; so much flavour, so rich, such a wonderfully deep golden to reddish copper colour; which being unchillfiltered and completely natural, you know you'll be tasting it for weeks. Going back to being an extremely harsh critic of a distillery I adore. What I have tasted right here though isn't up to that level; I'm left underwhelmed and disappointed. I think Bunnahabhain really need to sort out the inconsistencies between bottling's of their core range and has ultimately encouraged me to continue with the limited editions and independent bottling's, many of which are outstanding. My opinion might be in the minority though as ironically the Bunnahbhain 18 yr Old won the World Whisky Awards (WWA) Gold medal.
General Comments: I love Bunnahabhain; which means that I am both extremely bias and extremely critical towards a bottling such as the 18 yr Old. Over the last two years I have bought more bottles of Bunnahbain than any other whisky due to the combination of outstanding quality and; as it remains the relatively unloved Islay distillery as the consumer demand for peaty whisky continues to expand, the price. I have drank three bottles of Bunnahabhain 18 yr Old in the last nine months, and each time it was a significantly different whisky; part of the problem is that there doesn't seem to be much of the spirit's characteristics that comes through, and therefore the wood seems to have far greater influence.
At it's best however, this is a fantastical whisky in many ways; so much flavour, so rich, such a wonderfully deep golden to reddish copper colour; which being unchillfiltered and completely natural, you know you'll be tasting it for weeks. Going back to being an extremely harsh critic of a distillery I adore. What I have tasted right here though isn't up to that level; I'm left underwhelmed and disappointed. I think Bunnahabhain really need to sort out the inconsistencies between bottling's of their core range and has ultimately encouraged me to continue with the limited editions and independent bottling's, many of which are outstanding. My opinion might be in the minority though as ironically the Bunnahbhain 18 yr Old won the World Whisky Awards (WWA) Gold medal.
Without Water
Nose: Straight out of the bottle it's a 'room filler'. The deep, dark; yet natural colour comes through on the nose. Its a rich sweet whisky, cherries in maple syrup, with a touch of juicy raisins. A hint of toffee in there too. As much as it is a pleasing nose I return to my historical issue with this whisky; it's just not very sophisticated, it has little nuance, but it is biiiiiiiiig, and I cant wait to taste it.
Palate: The first mouthful is burning my tongue as I hold it in my mouth, exploring it, until the tingling starts to dissipate. I don't remember the alcohol being so prickly. I'm left with a dark chocolate into mellow coffee flavour lingering in the mouth. The second mouthful is much less prickly on the tongue, but still competes initially with the pleasing flavour on the front end. As I hold the whisky in my mouth to try to separate the flavours, I'm mainly getting savoury; green leafy savory, perhaps rocket, along with fresh green peppercorns. The sweet fruity flavours and rich wood sugars from the nose havent yet made an appearance. This is a very different experience to when I drank a bottle last month. Able to experience the flavours more now; I'm getting a rich syrupy texture, but without the sweetness that you'd expect from such a texture. Likewise the fruitiness isn't very sweet, I'm getting prunes, and possibly unripe, hard plums where the flavour is there but extremely withdrawn compared to the sweet, lushes flavours they give when soft and rip. A tarte blackberry flavour comes through, alongside gooseberry's. I'm also now getting a sort of dark fruit liquor experience; maybe something along the lines of Creme de Cassis.
Finish: More fruits are starting to come through, a black grapes or black grape juice element is coming through, leading to a brandy style flavour floating in the mouth. An oakinesds remins on the tongue though, straight down the centre, and remains. An instant coffee granules sort of flavour clings to the back of the mouth, around the throat and the base of the tongue.
Nose: With a few drops of water and a bit of time the nose has become actually more astringent; a strong citric, bordering on a chemical smell is dominant when nosing the glass; the alcohol vapours also stop you investigating too hard. I having to think hard what the smell is most similar too; grapefruit, orange and cantaloupe melon all spring to mind, as does peach schnapps. Luckily whilst thinking, a toffee note appears from the glass as the alcohol vapours have considerably died down Smelling now conjures an image of American style pancakes and raspberries, with maple flavoured syrup dizzled over (fake maple syrup; its too toffee'd to be proper wood sugars).
Palate: I'm still fighting against the alcohol, which is a battle i'm well used to winning; even at cask strength. I have to say that the palate hasn't changed much; prunes, black grape juice and brandy are still the flavours I'm picking up on. There is an element of black treacle as again this whisky isn't as sweet as I remember it being.
Finish: Dark chocolate, oak tannin's, espresso, and an element of green savoury; boc choy means that much like the palate, the finish hasn't changed much with water.Whilst the finish isn't bitter; I find it to be very 'neutral'. There is a fruitiness that remains though; morello cherries and perhaps a fig syrup. This isnt how I remember the 18 yr Old and I don't consider what was in these glass to be all that great.
With Water
Nose: With a few drops of water and a bit of time the nose has become actually more astringent; a strong citric, bordering on a chemical smell is dominant when nosing the glass; the alcohol vapours also stop you investigating too hard. I having to think hard what the smell is most similar too; grapefruit, orange and cantaloupe melon all spring to mind, as does peach schnapps. Luckily whilst thinking, a toffee note appears from the glass as the alcohol vapours have considerably died down Smelling now conjures an image of American style pancakes and raspberries, with maple flavoured syrup dizzled over (fake maple syrup; its too toffee'd to be proper wood sugars).
Palate: I'm still fighting against the alcohol, which is a battle i'm well used to winning; even at cask strength. I have to say that the palate hasn't changed much; prunes, black grape juice and brandy are still the flavours I'm picking up on. There is an element of black treacle as again this whisky isn't as sweet as I remember it being.
Finish: Dark chocolate, oak tannin's, espresso, and an element of green savoury; boc choy means that much like the palate, the finish hasn't changed much with water.Whilst the finish isn't bitter; I find it to be very 'neutral'. There is a fruitiness that remains though; morello cherries and perhaps a fig syrup. This isnt how I remember the 18 yr Old and I don't consider what was in these glass to be all that great.
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