Bunnahabhain PX 14 yr distillery only

This is a 2018 Feis Isle Festival special release from Bunnahabhain: 14 Year Old, Pedro Ximenez Cask that was hand-filled and available only at the distillery during the festival. It was bottled in 375ml bottles with hand-written labels and sold for around $60. It’s cask strength and bottled at 54.8% ABV. A friend sent me a pour of this as part of a recent trade. It’s light gold and oily in the Glencairn. I didn’t see any legs initially and it left behind tiny droplets after giving it a twirl. The nose is red berry craziness with a nice pinch of sherry cask and light smoke. The nose had a funky, buttery note as well and gave off a nice punch from the higher ABV. The palate was slightly harsh, but ultimately very sweet. More red berries and grape must with a nice backbone of citrus peel to keep it from turning into a full on cavity inducing mess. The ABV again showed up and made it a bit harsh with a little smoke ring rounding it out. The finish is medium-long, harsh and quite hot. The sweetness finally fades and ultimately finishes dry. I went back and added a little water and the nose became more funky, salty and smoky, which was a nice break from the sweetness. The harshness disappeared from the palate, but it offered no change to the finish. I’d say this was a good one for added water- I don’t usually say that. Overall, it was a decent dram but certainly not worth the $60 price for a half bottle. Thanks again to my buddy for the pour. 3.5 stars. Cheers, y’all.

This is a hand-bottled, distillery-only 14-year-old that has been aged solely in PX casks. It comes in a smaller 375ml bottle and costs around $60. Upon the initial pour, I was surprised by the color, which wasn't dark. I had anticipated a much deeper hue given its time in a PX cask. However, it is non-chill filtered and contains no added coloring, so perhaps the casks were less impactful? The nose is unremarkable. It smells of oysters and brine. At best, it's weak. But the palate... that's something else entirely. Sweet lemon cake. Very sweet, almost like a white wine spritzer. This would be absolutely ideal on a warm summer afternoon. Imagine a wine spritzer, with a hint of grilled lemons, served in a glass with a salted rim. The finish is like shortbread cookies. Sweet. Extremely sweet. Personally, I adored it, but it's not something for daily sipping. Save it for a warm, humid evening or scorching hot afternoons. Additional thought: I usually take 2 hours to finish a 2-ounce pour. This one took me 15 minutes at most. It's so much like dessert.

Following up on the Oloroso cask Bunnahabhain from the previous evening, I selected this whisky from my ample sample collection, courtesy of a friend. It’s a very different spirit, with a more understated nose. There are definitely sherry flavors, but they’re mixed with smoke and a coastal essence. There’s also a slightly funky cheese aroma, which I always appreciate. A small amount of water enhances the smokiness. The palate offers lemons, peat, and black tea, finishing with a surprising umami note, perhaps echoing the cheesy scent. The finish is long and dry. This is a much more well-rounded whisky than the Feis Ile Oloroso cask. The lingering taste isn’t as remarkable, but it’s more consistent throughout and highlights the spirit as much as the cask. Another exceptional Bunna.

Given the aging and the distillery's style, I had anticipated it would be somewhat more refined and intricate. I detected a harsh alcohol note that overshadowed all the other aromas.

Candied fruits and deep honey, biscuit with a salty hint, oranges, caramel, quite a bit of scotch mist when water is added, lacks refinement but has lots of flavor!