Bunnahabhain 12 Year

A little background

Bunnahabhain — which means ‘mouth of the river’ in Gaelic, is located at the mouth of Margadale Spring in the Islay region of Scotland. It was founded in 1883, where it largely made whisky for seafarers. Bunnahabhain 12 Year is 92.6 Proof Single Malt Scotch Whisky with an MSRP of around $50 – $60 USD.

(Tasted neat from a Halo Glass)

Color

Yellow Gold

Nose

The nose is definitely not the typical experience one would get from an Islay whisky, in that there is not a heavy note of smoke/peat. It is floral and fruity with heavy notes of candied apples, cinnamon, dark fruits, and sherry. The notes are dark, thick, and beautiful.

Palate

The body is medium and moderately dry. The palate is both sweet and spicy, giving notes of candied apples and molasses. These first two notes are thick and strongly coat the mid-palate. Sherry and dark, dried fruit touch both the mid and front palates to give an extra level of complexity. A nice nutty flavor sits on the back of the palate. A hint of spice tingles the mid palate.

Finish

The finish is medium-long and maintains those beautiful, thick notes that the palate presented. It is filled with sherry, nuts, orange peel, and an oak spice.

In conclusion

Wow, what an incredible whisky! I definitely need to try more of Bunnahabhain’s expressions, as this is now one of my favorite 12 year Scotch whiskies. I think the value is great, as it beats out most other scotches at the same age statement and price. Everything about it is beautiful, if you like scotch and have not tried this yet, do yourself a favor!