Bunnahabhain 25 Year

Can you truly love something and still feel a bit let down? That's how this makes me feel. Part of it is the cost, now reaching $600-$700, and part of it is how fantastic previous aged Bunnahabhain expressions have been. I want more of it but can't justify that it's 2-3 times the price of the 18 year old. Anyway, ignoring the cost, here are my tasting notes: Nose: Red berries, stone fruit, maybe chewing gum? It doesn't overwhelm with sherry and needs a little patience to reveal itself. Palate: Intricate. It delivers the profile of premium, well-aged scotch with a sherry cask finish. Fruity notes appear first, like dark stone fruits, then a slight bitterness akin to espresso or dark chocolate. Finish: I'll report back when it's done. It lingers for quite a while. It has a dryness reminiscent of aged, tannic red wine, yet a sweetness provides balance. Other: It possesses a velvety texture. Some companions described it as 'cookies and cream,' and while I wouldn't have thought of it, that's an accurate descriptor. It's more engaging and layered than the 18 year old. If forced to pick one for a drink, I'd choose the 25. However, unlike the 18, it doesn't leave me craving another pour. Alright, I've held off discussing the price this long, but if you happen upon this for around $300, I'd grab a bottle. At $600-$800, I'm uncertain of its value. I wouldn't spend that much.

Aroma - Sweet, creamy, fruity, and spicy with notes of strawberry & cream candies, rich fruity honey, caramel, and toffee. Palate - A fruity ginger tingle/spice, fresh berries & cream, ginger spice, orange zest, light leather (both sweet and bitter notes), sweet macadamia/Marcona almond nuttiness, and spiced berry honey. Finish - Lingering honey/ginger spice, a creamy/buttery texture, sweet spiced honey, with hints of fresh berries. It evokes the finish of a high-quality berry-infused Dambuie. Score - 91/100 Final Thoughts - My expectations were a bit high for this one, as I anticipated more oloroso/PX sherry influence. The chocolate/coffee notes found in the 18 were absent. This seemed more like a blend with a higher proportion of ex-bourbon casks alongside various sherry casks, rather than being heavily sherry-influenced like the 12 & 18. It's certainly good, but it lacks the dark chocolate quality that would elevate it from really good to amazing. Perhaps my anticipation was too great for this dram? Nevertheless, it boasts a wonderful creamy yet spicy mouthfeel, brimming with fresh berries and cream, combined with a delightful buttery caramel. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Perhaps

Nose: Very subtle, with sherry and honey notes, a faint hint of licorice; straightforward and easily identifiable aromas. Palate: Full-bodied and dense, oily, with significant sherry and honey flavors, accompanied by caramel and custard pie. Finish: Honey, medium-long, sweet, and very pleasant. A delicate and delightful malt. Its balance is perfect and not overly complex. However, in my view, its perfection lacks a certain character; it doesn't possess a distinct trait to make it unforgettable. Because of this, it just misses the highest scores. Voto 4,75

I had a couple of glasses at a celebratory dinner hosted by a colleague. It was quite good. However, for a 25-year-old Islay, typically priced between $600 and $800+, it didn't quite meet my expectations, in my opinion. The extended aging seems to have muted much of its character. Every sensory experience, both taste and smell (smoke, peat, malt, fruits, and other flavors), was extremely subtle. If there was ever a situation where the refinement usually associated with age was unclear, this would be it! I recall thinking while enjoying my pour, "Is this all?" To be clear, my overall rating heavily considers the value for money. If this were a $150-$200 bottle, it would likely be a solid 4+. Nevertheless, it was perhaps too "smooth/delicate" to the point of diminishing returns. 3.75 - 4 ⭐️ Since I anticipate some will find this controversial, I intend to provide more detailed notes and potentially adjust my score if I manage to obtain a sample or a bottle.

This was an incredible dram. After the 18yo didn't live up to the hype for me, this exceptional distillery absolutely amazed me with this whisky. You could easily have a bottle of this and enjoy a dram after dessert. Bottled at 46.3% Nose: Dark fruits mingled with chocolate. Very clear prune notes. Dulce de leche and baked apples. Much more subtle and refined. Primarily prunes. That characteristic burnt hay aroma from Bunnahabhain is present. Palate: Only two notes detected, but they are excellent: intense vanilla/chocolate and a subtle citrus flavor. Finish: Also amazing. Oranges with dulce de leche. Sweet with a hint of ashiness. Oak spices linger for a very long time in your mouth. A very pleasant dry herbal note. Overall, this whisky is simply amazing. It lost some points on the palate due to its directness, but it's undeniably a wonderful dram. 94 out of 100.

I previously sampled two cask strength Bunnahabhains, aged 27 and 30 years, before trying this one. Those were truly exceptional and led my brother and me to believe it was the finest Islay whiskey. The 27-year-old Boutique-y bottling even outperformed my cask strength single barrel Ardbeg 15. Therefore, I approached this 25-year-old from the distillery with high expectations. The aroma presents golden raisins, white peach, some earthy undertones, oak, cinnamon, and layers of caramel. The liquid has a high viscosity, offering candied orange, apricot, golden raisin, light oak spices, and caramel, leading to a finish that persists for several minutes with similar notes to the taste. This is a very good whiskey, but I don't believe it warrants the elevated price. I was able to find older, significantly more complex independent bottlings for half the cost. I'm fortunate to have tried a small sample.