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| Hello, that is considered one of our (virtually) every day tastings. Santé! |
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July 1, 2022
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Bunnies and Bunnas
After all not. Now, the issue with ‘Bunnies’, as we used to say earlier than unbridled branding took over every part, is that you can all the time come across a peater that did not say its title, which is all the time just a little difficult whenever you attempt to discover some coherence in a line-up (whereas failing anyway more often than not). Oh properly, lest do it randomly, or moderately like a cadavre exquis (the Surrealists’ beautiful corpse)…
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Bunnahabhain 8 yo 2013/2022 (52.3%, Clever Dodger, bourbon hogshead, cask #900170) 
This was completed in a Vino de Shade cask, which appears to be some type of sherry combined with some type of paxarette. I’ve by no means tried Vino de Shade, nevertheless it does sound very sketchy. To be completely sincere, and though I have been roaming the Shery triangle fairly a number of instances till simply final month, I did not even know Vino de Shade existed (S., boo!) Color: shade certainly, that is espresso. Nostril: heady molasses, El Dorado (typically moderately the identical factor), grocery store fruitcake (no baker would make them this candy), thick should, black raisins, dunnage, darkish honey, PX… Truly, this isn’t disagreeable in any respect, simply thick on the nostril. With water: touches of earth and pipe tobacco, actually not un-nice. Mouth (neat): very candy, thick, cloying, invasive. A bit rubber, someplace. With water: not possible to get proper, the quantities of water you add will utterly change it. I quit. End: moderately lengthy, nonetheless cloying, unsure, wobbly… however definitely enjoyable. Feedback: most likely precisely the one we should not have began this session with. Very loco, presumably for intrepid adventurers solely. Value making an attempt, what we name shifting out of the routine.
SGP:761 – 75 factors. |
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Bunnahabhain 7 yo 2014/2021 (59.2%, Signatory Classic for Whisky Bibliothek, Switzerland, cask #10593, 172 bottles) 
Wasn’t 2014 simply final week? Color: deep gold. Nostril: all proper, bacon, model new tyres, the brake pads of a Tesla, and burning pinewood; it is a peater. It could then turn into progressively just a little softer and extra coastal, with numerous iodine and brine. Mackerels and sardines brine, let’s assume. Olives. With water: like. Carbon, new sneakers, new electronics, engine oil, plus whiffs of cheese. Mouth (neat): just a little brutal and rubbery at first, however at 59.2%, that is regular. Tar, tyres, tarmac and salt. I am reminded of the primary Port Ellen ‘Uncommon Malts’ as they had been popping out. Huge affect! Besides that this younger bunny has extra wooden and, consequently, extra spices and sourness. With water: waters makes miracles. Gentler (albeit salty and fermentary) muffins, jams, mussels, ales… I believe +/-45% works splendidly. A pipette is advisable. End: lengthy, coastal, salty, with some seawater and tarry waxes. Feedback: good enjoyable, it by no means stopped bettering in my ebook. Higher on the palate (for as soon as!) and even higher with water.
SGP:567 – 87 factors. |
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Bunnahabhain 12 yo 2009/2021 (54.7%, Signatory Classic for Whic, 1st fill sherry butt, cask #90084, 709 bottles)
Signatory once more! Now that is moderately reassuring… A narrative about tarot and an empress right here, I say why not. Color: gold. Nostril: oh, candy maize bread, focaccia from the oven, sunflower oil, biscuits, croissants, apple peel, just a little paraffin… However that is old-school Bunnahabhain, hallelujah. With water: all barley, all breads and all ripe apples. N.a.t.u.r.a.l. Mouth (neat): glorious albeit just a little robust and scorching, with touches of varnish, custard, vegetal oils, doughs, ripe bananas, mirabelle spirit… With water: precisely. A bit honey, a wee wax, mirabelles and quinces, just a little bitter bread, sourdough bread, pancakes… End: identical, with a floral facet this time. It is not typically that flowers would seem within the end. Feedback: very, very, excellent, however 1st fill sherry? Fino?
SGP:551 – 86 factors. |
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Bunnahabhain 11 yo 2010/2021 ‘Mr Hyde’ (52.3%, Boogieman, single sherry butt, 69 bottles) 
With a trustworthy portrait of a whisky flipper on the label, properly performed. That is whisky performed by individuals who appear to be having enjoyable, I can not see who might be in opposition to that. Color: extraordinarily white white wine. Nostril: peat, Swiss cheese, fondue, kirsch. There you go. With water: plus chalk and uncooked wool. Traditional, as they are saying at Daimler-Benz. Mouth (neat): immaculate younger peater, with lime juice, seawater, fish brine, and never a lot else however we weren’t in want of anything. With water: bitter and smoked almonds, drawing gum (I imply, it is harking back to drawing gum, certainly we do not drink drawing gum) and softer brines. One thing to do with gherkins, maybe. End: medium, clear, smoked pears, ink, olives and that type of stuff. Feedback: I am an increasing number of in favour of immaculate younger malts, possibly as a result of an increasing number of distillers would are inclined to bury their makes beneath tons of oaks and wines. Like, triple casks and all that utter junk. Am I not changing into a reactionary?
SGP:457 – 88 factors. |
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Naturally, after a Mr Hyde, there is a…
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Bunnahabhain 12 yo 2009/2021 ‘Dr Jekyll’ (50.7, Boogieman, sherry butt, 69 bottles)
This time with the portrait of a model ambassador. A lot nicer than that of a disgusting, despicable whisky flipper of earthworm degree. Color: gentle gold. Nostril: it is good to nonetheless have the 2009 for Whic in a glass, as each are extraordinarily comparable. Doughs, breads, candy ales, croissants, bananas, honeys, meads… With water: I might say that is malt whisky as in malt whisky (wow, brainwave, S.!) Mouth (neat): oh good, malty, on extra candy ales, apple pie, muffins, scones… With water: cautious, do not drown it. Maybe extra acidic and earthy fruits, berries, sloe, sorb… But it surely does not love water, so watch out. End: medium, on leafy beers, pilsners… Feedback: simply tremendous good, however the ugly Mr Hyde – a capitalist I suppose – retains the higher hand.
SGP:461 – 85 factors. |
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Let’s go on with the indies. I’ve to say we have now little or no curiosity within the officers, as these would are typically inelegantly oak-doped and wine-boosted today. Yep, our opinion.
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Bunnahabhain 14 yo 2008 (62.1%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, refill barrel, #10.212, ‘Pebbles on the seashore’, 151 bottles) 
Think about, the honourable SMWS have already launched greater than 2 hundred completely different single casks of Bunny! Refill BB, that is horny… Color: white wine. Nostril: that is the place you realise that this distillate is completely good certainly when not butchered with no matter woods. Many doughs, bonbons, fruity molecules, pears and pineapples, pack of fruit drops, gentle and heavy beers, vanilla ice cream, blanc-mange, raisin rolls, biscuits… It is all delicate, actually, even at 62.1% vol. With water: doughs and doughs and doughs and doughs. Particularly pancake. Mouth (neat): too robust however you do really feel that that is completely pure and ideal. With (numerous) water: let’s not exaggerate, it is nonetheless a considerably ‘common’ malty spirit. Easy, not excellent, within the sense that these breads and ales can turn into just a little boring. It’s a little boring, like watching Netflix aimlessly. End: medium, caky, good, that is all. Apple pie within the aftertaste. Feedback: absolutely higher than the current OBs I may strive (not price mentioning) however I am undecided I will keep in mind this one without end. Hopes damaged on the palate.
SGP:451 – 79 factors. |
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Bunnahabhain 30 yo 1990 ‘Artemis First Launch’ (54.8%, The Whisky Barrel, hogshead, cask #1025, 285 bottles, +/-2021)
They’re completely spaced out on the Whisky Barrel, which we truly encourage and applaud. Bliss and serenity lie within the subsequent world, not on this one for positive. Color: gold. Nostril: gentle, cakey, barley-y, with stewed apples and different reasonably fragrant fruits. Starfruits and jujubes, for instance. Additionally some white chocolate, sunflower oil, popcorn and Viennese espresso. Shh… With water: fields and meadows, Golden Grahams, Kellogg’s worst (a.ok.a one of the best), Nescafé… Mouth (neat): a lot tighter and stronger on the palate, that is virtually one other whisky. Stouts and ales, apples and artichokes, eggplants, properly this isn’t a type of ‘gently honeyed previous Bunnahabhains’. With water: natural liqueurs however with none mentholy elements. Caraway, maybe? End: medium, with honeys and meads. Feedback: it was moderately a smooth, shy, self-diminishing hogshead. Superb, however maybe a wee tad unnoticeable. In contrast to that Artemis rocket that is imagined to be launched to the moon this 12 months, apparently. In all probability not from Baïkonour.
SGP:551 – 85 factors. |
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Bunnahabhain 34 yo 1987/2021 (53.4%, Acla Da Fan Choice, hogshead, 61 bottles)
Loopy wee stuff from japanese Switzerland, which could properly be the centre of civilisation. Not too quick, not too gradual. We’re close to them at Whiskyfun Towers, we go there each time we like, et voilà. Color: gold. Nostril: yeah yeah yeah, we’re discovering this profile that is additionally to be present in previous Tomintouls from comparable vintages. Baked and stewed assorted fruits, compotes, prunes, apples, fruit purées, meads and ciders, contemporary almonds… Certain this isn’t Ardbeg, however we’re followers. With water: smooth wooden and fruit juices, particularly apple. Very smooth spices, maybe some candy gentle paprika? Cinnamon? Mouth (neat): completely glorious, with apples, almonds and just a little coconut at first, then tighter cider apples and gooseberries, properly this one’s acquired a enterprise to start out with, so to talk. With water: yeah excellent, almondy and fruity, with good maltiness and lots of apples and plums. This works. End: medium, with just a little greener oak about to take over. Feedback: these softer older malts are all the time extraordinarily nice, even when they would not actually rock our worlds.
SGP:561 – 87 factors. |
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Bunnahabhain 37 yo 1980/2018 (41.5%, WFFA, bourbon, cask #3078, 33 bottles) 
One other tiny outturn. We wish to strive these bottlings as a result of there isn’t any enterprise subject in any respect, and since basically, the bottlers would are inclined to drink all of it (severe, I’ve seen that occur) even earlier than they’d attain some type of market. We’re not speaking Johnnie-sized sorts of markets, naturally. So, solely for glory… Color: gold. Nostril: typical previous Bunnahabhain, and typical previous Tomintoul. Previous woods changing into mentholy, thyme and lime blossom, smooth breads, very tiny touches of coconut wine, these issues. In all probability just a little fragile, however there, it’s nonetheless alive… Mouth: exhausting to say. Some interesting parts at first (apples, marzipan, putty), then a bouillony saltiness which typically comes with previous age, then simply drained previous woody malt. There, I stated it. End: not likely; will get disjointed and dry. Feedback: these batches could also be declining now. I might suppose these very previous Royal Salutes would want them, moderately than us poor malt maniacs, however they’re nonetheless ‘attention-grabbing’. Ah, PCness…
SGP:361 – 80 factors. |
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