Bunnahabhain 11 Year Discovery (Gordon & MacPhail)

As a devoted admirer of Bunnahabhain, this G&M bottling truly stands out. This dram is exceptionally smooth and creamy from the start. A hint of caramel greets you, followed by a pleasant, subtle clove and cinnamon essence. This then evolves into a surprisingly gentle fruitiness (plum and dried fruits). It concludes with a finish of citrus and dark chocolate, leaving a lingering tangy and spicy aftertaste. The sherry cask maturation's influence is undeniable. Without the initial caramel and its softness, I'd struggle to identify this as a Bunnahabhain. It carries a distinct Speyside character for an Islay malt. Considering its price, this is an exceptional value. A truly delicious dram.

Discovered in a Port Charlotte bar, this Bunnahabhain 11yo Discovery, bottled by Gordon & Macphail, offers a superb nose. Expect coffee, dark berries, rich honey, cocoa, and hazelnut. Notes of orange chocolate, buttery chocolate, Butterfinger, and raisinets are present. The palate is very satisfying with almonds, nutmeg, chocolates, and cinnamon. A hint of milk chocolate and a lactic quality emerge after the initial taste. The finish presents three well-executed notes: almonds, a wine-like character, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Ultimately, this was a delightful surprise, incredibly flavorful and true to Bunnahabhain's chocolatey profile. I rate it 94 out of 100.

The aroma is clean and subtle, featuring notes of oranges, cinnamon, plain cookies, sweet lemon, molasses, and raisins. On the palate, it presents as fruity, citrusy, and malty sweet. It lacks the red-fruit intensity of the typical distillery offerings. It surprisingly carries hints of grain from Campeltown, which is atypical for Bunnahabhain. The conclusion is predominantly dry. The lingering taste is pleasant, with a touch of bitter almonds. Overall, it strikes a fine balance between sweet and fruity bitterness. A commendable effort in the realm of affordable, independent whiskies.

Drunk neat from a sample. The aroma is fresh and welcoming, with notes of honeyed apple, sweet pipe tobacco, maple-infused dates, and powdered sugar like an elephant ear pastry. It presents some interesting complexity. The texture is smooth like butter. It initially tastes like light apple juice on the tongue, then deepens mid-palate with caramel, a hint of oak, and a sourdough bread note. The finish lacks a significant transition but offers a pleasant vanilla on top of everything. It was an enjoyable sample; it performs adequately in all aspects but doesn't excel in any particular one.

The texture is very smooth and buttery. A bit of smokiness is detected first, followed by a lingering sweetness with notes of fruit and milk chocolate on the finish.

Summer whisky. Flavorful. Fruit not sharp.