Bunnahabhain 8 (North Star Spirits exclusive bottling for The Oak Barrel)

North Star Series 15 and 16 tasting, The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 9 March 2022. Spirit #4 Aroma: Musty and stale, but not in an appealingly complex way, just stale like a poorly ventilated cheap hotel room. Astringency, sweat, alcohol, grit, and fine dust. After some time, it develops a scent like a cotton shirt burned by a hot iron. Palate: A sweet, malty arrival with caramel. Molasses, dried fruit, dates, and cooked apple emerge as it develops. The mouthfeel is adequate but unremarkable. Finish: Brief. Malty fudge and milk chocolate. After beginning with two average spirits, the tasting improved with spirit number 3 (a very pleasant 14-year-old Dailuaine), but then all that progress was lost in the disaster of this dram. The aroma is terrible, but although the palate is superior, the two elements of scent and taste seem to be in constant conflict. Adding water does little to improve the aroma while simultaneously degrading the palate. It does begin to improve slightly after a considerable time when water is added, but it never reaches an average level. This was a special bottling created for The Oak Barrel, but I cannot fathom why. It is not a good spirit – simultaneously the worst North Star and the worst Bunnahabhain I can recall tasting, and it is far too expensive. I would not accept this even if you paid me. "Inferior": 68/100 (1.75 stars)