First off bravo on putting the two to test again. Wow, the blend at the end forces me to rethink and maybe hope to get my hands on a 2022 release. I've added A'bunadh's heavy sherry influence to bourbon finish scotches before and I've experienced a great winning combination before so I know how you feel. These two maybe what's needed for that elevated experience. Great idea John!
The two most memorable neck pours I’ve ever had were from a bunnahabhain 12 and from a Springbank 12. Powerful and Unique taste on those two. Both changed significantly after that but of course we’re still very enjoyable.
John, I love your straight forward review style! I’ve already seen the Whisky Jason comparison and he, being the sherry head that he is LOVED the 2022! I am much more of balance or even bourbon guy……I’m so glad to see you give a different take on the Bunnahabhain 12 CS tasting. I ended up with 2 bottles of the 2021 and haven’t seen the 2022. And now…..I’m not looking. I don’t need deeper sherry expression as whisky Jason was so impressed with. Thank you,thank you, thank you! Now I need information about your glasses. Are those the “perfect measure “ glasses that are a Glencairn with a stem? Where can I get a couple? I’m in Michigan and would love to own a pair……Please Help!!!
Thanks Cecil for the kind words. Much appreciated! I try to keep it real as best I can. I bought those glasses as a set of 4 on Amazon for @ $40. Cheers 🥃
I've got the 2022 and it is phenomenal. I wish I could compare it to the 2021. Bur I'll just be happy to have the 2022 and savor it, making sure I save enough of it for celebrating Christmas with the family 8 months from now. It just seems so Christmasy to me.
Just to note in Scottish Gaelic a 'bh' is usually pronounced as a 'v'. The 'bh' in Bunnahabhain is pronounced as a 'v'. *copied from their own website: WELCOME TO BUNNAHABHAIN Pronounced 'Bunn-na-ha-venn', meaning 'mouth of the river' in Scots Gaelic, our distillery is the most remote on Islay, nestled in Bunnahabhain Bay on the shores of the Sound of Islay.
Neat only, John? How’d they go with a little water? And wow, how Bunna’s reputation has changed since its days as a near-forgotten sleeper. These CS releases disappeared so fast in my area I never even got a whiff. Yet there is the standard 12 on the shelf, always in stock and reasonably priced.
I usually play around with water before the review, but I usually prefer straight cask strength with few exceptions…like Highland Park cask strength benefits with copious amounts of water. As far as Bunna… The core B12 @ 46.3% is all one needs. Cheers 🥃
Bunna 12 has fantastic taste and IMHO doesnt need to be improved. It make sense when whisky is 40% like HP10/12 or Laphi 10 or even Select what i actually do and recommend. 😁🥂🙋🏻♂️
That would be adding 53.5% fine Scottish spring water for every measure of the standard. That is how I drink GlenFarclas 105 and Glengoyne NAS CS. If you're going to add water anyway......
How do you feel about their peated releases? I find they are getting better and the feis isle bordeaux moine really was bunnahabhain at its finest (challenging octomore for high quality peated in wine casks)
