Bunnahabhain 25yo (43%, OB, +/- 2009)

The oldest commonly & currently available of the official bottlings and bottled ‘Mit Farbstoff Zuckerkulor’ or caramel coloring. Hmm. The nose is gentle and pleasant along with cherries, some apricot, hints of sherry, hints of malt and oak spice. A very nice collection of aromas. There is also further wood notes and some brine. All in all very nice. The taste is gentle at first but it quickly grows to reveal brine, gentle leather & tobacco, bacon (!), fruit, lots of malt and honey along with the hints of sherry. The wood notes change quite quickly to become dark chocolate. It’s lovely. The finish is subtle, oaked and then honeyed with the brine making a showing and then after a moment or two the malty oak makes a final push and wins in the end. The finish is actually quite long for such a gentle whisky and very pleasant.

One has to wonder what it would be like at 46%, Unchillfiltered and without ‘Mit Farbstoff Zuckerkulor’ but even with it is a very good dram.

C$265

Score 86