Bunnahabhain Aonadh

Nose: Rich notes of sweet dried fruit like raisins, plums, blackberries, cherries, and figs, with a background hint of machine oil. After adding water and allowing it to rest, a softer, syrupy fragrance emerges. Palate: A sweet yet dry initial taste with stewed dark fruits nearly overwhelmed by intense cask tannins and the astringent oiliness of walnut skins. Morello cherries in syrup and additional dark fruits appear as it develops, accompanied by a gradual increase in leather and tobacco notes. The texture is substantial, full-bodied, and leaves a slightly puckering dryness with a touch of salt. Diluting with water softens and sweetens the palate. Finish: Medium length. The dark fruits and toffee notes from the palate slowly fade into a dry aftertaste with hints of cocoa, walnut, and spice. Port cask finishes are rarely unremarkable, usually proving either exceptional or a failure. Fortunately, this is one of the better instances. The majority of this whisky's aging occurred in sherry casks, creating a robust foundation for the more pronounced finish. While most of the sherry wood was likely ex-oloroso, it's plausible that some fino casks were also utilized. A highly enjoyable, full-bodied, and engaging whisky, though not the most approachable. It might not be suitable for beginners due to the leafy tannic dryness, but most seasoned enthusiasts should find it at least intriguing. It was my second favorite Bunnahabhain expression sampled that evening, trailing only the outstanding 18 year old. As a side note, making jokes about Bunnahabhain's expression names has become predictable, but I must confess this is one of their most challenging to pronounce. Their website suggests saying it as "oon-ouch," but that doesn't capture the subtle nuances of the Gaelic pronunciation. Our attempts at saying it must sound comical to them! "Very Good": 85/100 (4 stars)

APPEARANCE: Deep red-brown. TEARS: Very thin streaks; thick drops formed and lingered; eventually descending extremely slowly (like a snail race); many drops never fell. AROMA: Moderate intensity (3/5); rich, dusty confection sweetness; sweet, dusty grain and malt; cocoa powder; floral, herbal, hay notes; a hint of sea spray in the background; genuinely pleasing and satisfying. WITH ADDED WATER (3 drops into 5mL): slightly more subtle; sweetness is dominant; the dustiness lessens. Score 9/10 MOUTHFEEL: Very dry tannins; rich sherry fruit; stale tobacco and ashtray notes; rich, sharp, and burning; rich, sharp fruity port influence; salty finish; powerful and full of flavor due to the high alcohol content. WITH ADDED WATER: excellent, but quite similar. Score 9/10 AFTERTASTE: Medium duration; drying; sweet; dark fruits. WITH ADDED WATER: longer and sweeter. Score 8/10 GENERAL IMPRESSION: So very distinctive and intriguing; a burst of dusty dark fruits; highly inviting. Superior without water. Weighted Score 8.9/10 VISUALIZATION: Imagine sitting on the floor of a dusty storage area, behind some casks, secretly tasting from one of the aging port barrels, hoping to go undiscovered.

Nose: Gasoline, machine oil, apples, raspberries, caramel candy. Palate: Walnut, wood, kirsch, seasoning, sultanas, figs, prune preserves. Finish: Not long, not short. Cocoa, spice, hide, dark produce, musty. A dry woody sensation lingers. Rich and syrupy. A lovely sweet fruit character runs through it, with abundant cocoa in the tail. A fantastic dram! My top pick out of the six samples, earning 60% (6 votes) of the final selection for the evening's best. 90% (9 votes) of attendees indicated they liked the spirit. I selected this one as my favorite from the tasting.

Raisins, a powerful alcohol, sweet flowers, an orange zest with a beautiful length, green wood at the very end. The umami is less present than in the 12 year old, but the salinity appears after a few sips, with suggestions of plums, powdered sugar/vanilla and subtle Christmas spices (cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg).

Nose: light spice, plum, and dark fruit. Taste: thick, sweet, dark spices, a mix of cough syrup and scotch. very unique. Finish: light and sweet, almost like a spoonful of syrup. Other notes: Very unique, similar to a specific Samuel Adams release.

Maple syrup, vanilla, and sherry undertones. Love the mouthfeel and rich sweetness