Colour: Gold.
Nose: Delightful peat smoke, combined with a malty sweetness, vanilla and fruity aromas such as white peach and some lime. Some herbs, like sage and heather, mixed with cold ashes. The high alcohol content is hardly noticeable.
Palate: First a creamy sweetness of vanilla and burnt caramel, then strong, rich and properly warming with a distinct alcoholic spiciness. Some mint with salty coastal aromas and hazelnut notes. This is all wrapped in fine peat smoke.
Finish: The finish shows a medium length with some oak, roasted aromas, green hazelnut, cold smoke and dry ash.
With water: After the addition of a splash of water, this Bunnahabhain is much more present on the nose with an alcoholic bite, slightly less fruit sweetness but more "cowshed aromas". Prickling on the tongue with noticeably more smoke and peat. There, the warming alcoholic bite is clearly softened with fruit aromas and burnt caramel sweetness shining through. The finish is still of medium length and much drier with ash, cloves and cold peat smoke.
Comments: To me, this third bottling of "The War of the Peat" series is a very nice one. A young, tempestuous Bunnahabhain with a delicate mixture of fruit, smoke, peat and sweetness, without alcoholic pungency. It is both undiluted and with a few drops of water very nice to drink. Something strong in the present uncertain times.

I thank whic (Whiskycircle) for the complimentary sample and the image!

Colour: Bright gold.
Nose: Fruity on the nose with a decent nuttiness of green walnuts. Creamy with vanilla, apricots and sherry sweetness, followed by a wee maritime note. The alcohol is present but not pungent.
Palate: Strong and rich on the palate with sweet and fruity notes, followed by a bitter touch of green walnuts. Slightly maritime with a whiff of smoke in the back. Warming spiciness arrives with oak, nutmeg, ginger and pepper. Warm and mouth-filling.
Finish: The finish is medium long and very warming with a delicate nuttiness in the back.
With water: Less sweet on the nose when a splash of water is added. Walnuts, mixed with smoke and sherry in the back. Also less sweet on the palate while fruity notes of peaches and citrus arrive. Dry oak with a tamed spiciness. The finish shows medium length with prickling spices and dry oak.
Comments: This 13-year-old Bunnahabhain shows a beautiful selection of fruity notes paired with a delicate sherry sweetness, light smokiness, warming spices and subtle coastal aromas. A rich, bold and full-bodied single malt that goes well with the cold season.

Colour: Gold.
Nose: Sherry aromas nicely mingle with notes of dried fruits, oranges and peaches. Sweet vanilla with autumnal spices, burnt treacle and a hint of peat in the back.
Palate: Starts sweet and fruity on the palate with toffee, dried fruits, peaches and plums. This is accompanied by a significantly warming spiciness of oak, black pepper, cloves and allspice. Slight waves of peat smoke and a whiff of cinnamon towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is medium to long with creamy fruit, warming allspice and subtle dry oak on the tail.
With water: Water brings more vanilla and fruitiness to the fore while the spicy flavours are tamed. Still sweet and creamy on the palate with dried fruits, vanilla and lots of peaches. Less warming and less spicy with a delicate nuttiness lingering towards the finish. The finish is medium long, sticky sweet and subtle dry with walnuts and a whiff of peat smoke on the tail.
Comments: A nice sherried single malt for the current autumnal season. Solid with layers of complexity. The influence of the sherry cask isn't overpowering the whisky at all, leaving enough space for the delicate dried fruits and warming spices to come through. Pleasantly quaffable!

I thank Kirsch Whisky - The House of Whiskies for the complimentary sample and the image.

Colour: White wine (Riesling Spätlese).
Nose: There's immediately smoke on the nose, but very discreet, with some burnt and crisp peat in addition. Behind that a malty sweetness appears, to which yellow fruit aromas - mainly peach, but also some lemon sorbet - are added as well as vanilla notes. At the end a slight hint of ozone.
Palate: Creamy and slightly oily on the palate. First a subtle fruit sweetness with a bit of citrus, surrounded by fine smoke and peat. Then a warming mix of spices spreads over the palate with black pepper, clove, some nutmeg and fresh oak. This warmth becomes even more intense with the 2nd sip.
Finish: The finish is of medium length to short, dry and slightly warming. Smoke with some ash and dry oak towards the end.
With water: More notes of citrus on the nose when a few drops of water are added, but also more smoke and ozone. The malty sweetness and the fruity peach notes are strongly pushed into the background. First a little bit sweet on the palate, then immediately dry and warming with spices such as pepper, clove, nutmeg and oak, with a hint of peach towards the finish. The finish is short, warming and very dry with smoke, ash and ozone.
Comments: This single malt whisky was part of a blind sample tasting organized by whic.de. To me, this whisky was made on the Isle of Islay, due to the special kind of peaty and smoky flavours. However, not that intense and pungent as from distilleries from the South, so I thought of Caol Ila. The dram is already well balanced with a pleasant mix of fruitiness, warming spices and peat smoke. Young, but not too young. I thought of 6 to maybe 8 years of age. In the end it was a 3 year-old Bunnahabhain from an Octave cask. Wow - I wasn't expecting that! Well done. This small type of cask has already delivered a lot of flavours to the spirit. A good sipping dram in front of a logfire.

I thank Leonie, René and Arne from whic (Whiskycircle) for the complimentary sample and the image!

Colour: Light amber.
Nose: There's immediately peat and smoke on the nose, nicely mixed with a delicate sherry sweetness and orange zests. Hints of gauze bandage emerge, followed by allspice, oak and cloves. Tender fruity with notes of apples and lemons, supported by tobacco leaves and subtle barbecue aroma in the back. A very pleasant nose indeed!
Palate: Sweet and creamy on the palate with red apples and oranges, followed by vanilla and lingering sherry notes. Smooth but rich with lingering peat smoke, delicate black pepper and subtle oak spice. Nicely warming and mouth-filling.
Finish: The finish is long, warm and slightly dry with oak and peat smoke. Sticky orange marmalade, gingerbread and dry notes of tobacco leaves on the tail.
With water: Drier on the nose when a few drops of water are added. Less sweet -  but oak spice, notes of gauze bandage and ash emerge with a little orange fruit in the back. Bold and fairly spicy on the palate with cracked black pepper, prickling oak, allspice, ginger and cloves. Subtle peat smoke with creamy notes of oranges and apples towards the finish. The finish is still long but becomes very dry with oak, coal ash and a hint of peat smoke.
Comments: A lovely Mòine variant of Bunnahabhain's single malt. This selection from a combination of Ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks results in delicate sherry sweetness, fruity citrus flavours and pleasant smokiness with subtle coastal aromas and warming spices. A full-bodied single malt with a long finish. Excellent value for money, too.

Colour: Amber.
Nose: The nose starts off with pleasant aromas of very old sherry, nicely mixed with the typical flavours of raisins, dried fruits, dates and toffee. Slightly notes of sea salt emerge, followed by oak spice, anise, dark chocolate and salted caramel in the back.
Palate: Very sweet on the palate with loads of sherry, brown sugar, and raisins. This is accompanied by a warming mix of spices - oak, anise and nutmeg. Once the warmth fades, pleasant dark chocolate and lingering notes of bitter walnuts arrive, before the sherry sweetness takes over again.
Finish: The finish is medium to long, sweet and creamy with sherry, toffee and walnuts. Slightly dry with cocoa and espresso on the tail.
With water: There's more oak spice coming through when a few drops of water are added while the delicate sherry sweetness is significantly tamed. Still sweet on the palate with only slightly warming spices and lingering bitter walnut flavours. The finish is noticeably shorter but still sweet, creamy and nutty.
Comments: A full-bodied, complex, sweet and for me very tasty Bunnahabhain. That is what makes this distillery so unique. Bunnahabhain spirit, whether peaty or not, matures excellently in former sherry casks producing a sweet, creamy, nutty and chocolaty whisky with a small but fine maritime influence. No disturbing sulphur aromas. A must for all sherry aficionados!

Colour: Dark amber.
Nose: The nose starts off with sherry, dark fruits, raisins and malted barley. Behind that sweetness, earthy notes of damp moss arrive, nicely mixed with roasted flavours and dark chocolate. Fragrant, with some burnt rubber and a whiff of smoke in the background.
Palate: Bold and rich on the palate. Sweet, full of sherry and lingering raisins. Then slightly bitter with walnuts and a warming spicy mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, oak and white pepper. Hints of ginger and roasted malt towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is medium to long, creamy sweet, with a warming spicy touch of ginger and nutmeg.  Quite lingering, soothing on caramel and slightly bitter walnuts.
With water: There's less sherry flavours coming through when a few drops of water are added. Still sweet with demerara sugar and raisins, while the burnt rubber aroma is tamed completely. Sweet on the palate with spices and bitter flavours of fruit and walnuts. Less strong than neat with dry oak towards the finish. The finish is medium long, sweet and creamy with a slightly warming touch of spices and dry oak.
Comments: A pleasing single malt from Islay with a wonderful combination of sherry sweetness, warming spices and bitter walnut flavours. A typical Bunna. Water masks the sulfur-derived aromas on the nose without losing the delicious sweetness.

I thank Björn Lahmann from Whiskyplaza for the sample!

Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Surprisingly oily and smoky start on the nose with a malty backbone. Subtle fruitiness arrives with apricots, lemons and a touch of passion fruit. Soapy, waxy with some floral notes and a whiff of leather in the back.
Palate: Sweet on the palate with delicate apricots, peaches and lemons, followed by mellow notes of caramel. Nicely warming with a pleasant spiciness of pepper, oak and a hint of peat. Subtle bitter notes of pink grapefruit and bonfire ashes towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is medium long, warm and slightly sweet with acacia honey, caramel and a touch of pear drops. Becomes dry on the tail with oak, pepper and a whiff of sea salt.
With water: Fresh on the nose with more yellow fruit's coming through when water is added. Floral with hints of bonfire smoke in the background. Fruity and creamy on the palate with apricots, lychee and lemons, followed by hints of oak, pepper and malted barley. Creamy with a significantly tamed spiciness. The finish is medium long, creamy and slightly warm with a tamed spiciness and dryness.
Comments: This nice 17 years old bottling is a rather unusual profile for a Bunnahabhain. Fruity and floral, with a soapy, smoky and spicy edge. Very interesting though. Quite a savoury alternative to the (heavily) sherried treats from this Islay distillery. The perfect companion to a cheese and fruit plate.

I thank Douglas Laing for the sample and the photograph!

Colour: Amber.
Nose: Lovely sweet start on the nose with sherry, dates and raisins, followed by dark fruits and a bit of toffee. Fresh with sea air, some oak, hints of damped wood and leathery notes. A touch of cinnamon, pepper and salted nuts in the back.
Palate: Bold and rich on the palate. Big and mouth coating with sherry sweetness, Christmas cake, caramel and dried dark fruits, accompanied by an intense warming spiciness of oak, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a whiff of cardamom. Becomes slightly astringent towards the finish with subtle bitter walnuts and tannins.
Finish: The finish is long, creamy sweet, dry and pleasantly warming with toffee, spiced oak, bitter dark chocolate, damped wood and a touch of salt.
With water: Stays sweet on the nose by adding a splash of water while more sea air is coming to the fore. Fresh and fruity. Sweet and creamy on the palate where the bold spiciness is significantly tamed. Damped wood and leathery notes are nicely mixed with delicate malted barley. The finish is a bit shorter, creamy sweet with caramel and a lingering nuttiness on the tail.
Comments: A big sherried Islay whisky. The nose and the palate deliver delicate, intense and multi-layered flavours. Nice interplay of sherry sweetness, dark fruitiness, warming spiciness, fresh sea air and lingering saltiness. Quite enjoyable neat despite the high alcohol content. The perfect companion to a sea salt dark chocolate bar.

I thank Björn Lahmann from Whiskyplaza for the sample!

Colour: Pale straw.
Nose: Clean and fresh on the nose with the peat being quite up front. Notes of cereals with a delicate fruitiness of lemons and green apples behind. Peppery with a scent of brine and seaweed in the back.
Palate: Surprisingly sweet on the palate. Barley sugar nicely mingles with delicate citric fruits, mainly lemons, and green apples, complemented by an intense and warming spiciness of cracked black pepper, chilli, nutmeg and oak. Crisp peat mixed with sea air and seaweed towards the finish.
Finish: A delightful long finish. Initially sweet and very warm with barley sugar and drying notes of peat. Oak and seaweed on the tail.
With water: Water tames a bit of the barley sweetness and peatiness, bringing more citric fruits to the fore. Less sweet and fruity on the palate. The spiciness, however, is significantly increased with oak, nutmeg. pepper, and allspice. The finish is shortened and less warm but very dry with oak and peat.
Comments: This is an appetising islander. Very pleasant, intensive and savoury. One on the sweet side. Would be quite a good match for seafood. A well balanced whisky to be enjoyed neat. Certainly one for the outdoors.

I thank Kirsch Whisky Import for the sample and the photograph!

Colour: Dark amber.
Nose: Sweet start on the nose with sherry, plums and raisins, followed by dark berries, cherries and caramel. Smooth and slightly spicy with cinnamon, oak and a delicate nuttiness (walnuts) in the back, nicely wrapped in fresh sea air and a whiff of earthy tones.
Palate: Bold on the palate. A mouth watering start with dry sherry and oak, slightly astringent. Then the sweetness arrives with dark cherries, plums and dark grapes. This is complemented by a delicate spiciness of oak, pepper and nutmeg. Becomes slightly bitter and dry towards the finish with walnuts, grape peel and tannins.
Finish: The finish is long, pleasantly warming with lingering (bitter) walnuts, spiced oak and espresso. Becomes very dry on the tail accompanied by earthy notes.
With water: There's more dark fruits on the nose with a few drops of water. Sweet sherry flavours nicely mixed with earthy tones, damp moss and leather. Strong but significantly tamed on the palate with a slightly sweetness and gently warming spiciness. Walnut and hazelnut flavours are dominating towards the finish. The finish is still long, warm and dry with walnuts, mocha and spiced oak.
Comments: Indeed a very intriguing dram. Well controlled, with an inviting nose and a delightful taste. A good solid whisky with layers of complexity and not overpowered by the sherry casks. Big, spicy and then a lingering savouriness. Rich and mellow and no need for water. A serious autumnal dram.

Colour: Dark amber.
Nose: Very fruity and aromatic on the nose with dry sherry notes, lovely mixed with a melange of cherries, sultanas, raisins and madeira cake. Lingering notes of plums and Demerara sugar emerge followed by slightly spiced oak, walnut flavours and a whiff of smoke in the back. Inebriant, gorgeous nose!
Palate: Starts significantly dry on the palate with intense aromas of sherry, cherries, prunes and baked red apples. This is followed by a pleasant warmth of white pepper, nutmeg and oak. Slightly bitter notes of dark chocolate emerge, complemented by sea salt and tender maritime notes towards the finish. Very well integrated and balanced. Light grip.
Finish: The finish is medium long and deliciously fruity and dry. Creamy, warm ginger spice, cinnamon and oak on the tongue with sticky plum jam and a whiff of smoky bitterness on the tail.
With water: Water tames a bit of the fruitiness and sweetness on the nose, bringing more spices, oak, and smoke to the fore. Significantly salty on the palate with bitter fruit, orange peel, subtle spiced oak, pepper, and cinnamon. The finish is medium long, subtle sweet and drying with more oak, sea salt and smoke on the tail.
Comments: This is a very nice sherried and unpeated malt. The salty and maritime influence of this young Bunnahabhain is obvious and fits perfectly with the layered fruitiness and balanced oak spice. A good solid whisky with layers of complexity. Dangerously quaffable!

Colour: Bright amber.
Nose: A lot is going on here. Sweet and sherried maritime nose. Lots of marzipan, lovey mixed with fruits - strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, yellow apples and plums. Delicate notes of custard, honey and caramel arrive, nicely lingering with subtle raisins, sea air, a hint of cinnamon and a whiff of damped wood in the back. Improves with time to become a great nose!
Palate: Oh boy, that's bold and intense. Sweet arrival of luscious fruits - strawberry, apples and yellow plums in particular, immediately followed by a strong warmth of alcohol (not pungent at all!), white pepper, nutmeg, crystallized ginger and cinnamon spice. Creamy, sweet and nicely complex. Hints of leather and subtle earthy notes shine through with a sweet and delicate load of sticky toffee and fine nutty flavours. Delicious!
Finish: The finish is long, warm and lovely creamy with sweet sticky toffee notes, fine marzipan and walnuts. Dark chocolate and spiced oak end in a slightly dry end with a tender brackish edge.
With water: Water enhances the fruitiness on the nose with more marzipan and a whiff of maritime notes coming through. Creamy, even silky on the palate with luscious fruit, sweet caramel, marzipan and a slightly tamed warmth with prickling oak spice on the tongue. Quite vibrant! The finish is long, sweet and creamy with soft oak spice on the tail.
Comments: WOW! Can't believe this is only 12 years old! This is a complex, full-bodied and very well-balanced whisky. Starting slightly reserved on the nose, it develops a strong and voluminous mouthfeel with an impressive harmony of sweetness, fruitiness and spiciness, ending in a smooth and creamy finish. Excellent drinkable! Improves with air but It's hard to wait as this is eminently delicious. Well chosen cask by the folks from Signatory Vintage and Kirsch Whisky Import! Too bad it was only one butt.

I thank Kirsch Whisky Import for the sample!

Colour: Gold.
Nose: A pleasant fruity start on the nose with ripe apples, yellow cherries mixed with pink grapefruit. Discreet vanilla sweetness and subtle Demerara sugar arrive with lingering cinnamon, cloves and gentle oak. Very complex and inebriant!
Palate: Very fruity on the palate with a delicious mix of ripe apples, yellow pears, carambola, and slightly bitter notes of pink grapefruit and orange peel. Gently austere and prickling sweet, like bitter lemon drink, accompanied by a very nice and warming spiciness of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, white pepper and a touch of oak. Smooth and delicate!
Finish: The finish is long and sticky sweet with yellow plum jam, and acacia honey. Becomes slightly bitter with notes of pink grapefruit and orange peel, followed by a lingering warmth of cinnamon and spiced oak.
With water: Clean and fresh on the nose with a splash of water. Oak comes to the fore with a subtle smokiness in the back. Fruity and sweet on the palate with significantly more spiciness. Warm and intense. The finish is a bit shorter with water. Delicate fruit and honey sweetness linger towards the spicy end.
Comments: This is an excellent dram! The sherry isn't overpowering at all. This helps to underline the fruitiness and sweetness of this beauty and to balance them with a very pleasant spiciness in a perfect manner. One of the best Bunnahabhain whiskies over 20 years old I've had in the glass. A dream malt at very reasonable price.

I thank Joe Seidel from Joe's Malt Shop for sample and photograph!

Colour: Amber.
Nose: Fruity aroma of red berries intermingle with vinous flavours, sweet malted barley, subtle molasses, and delicate toffee. Notes of freshly sawn oak emerge with walnuts, nutmeg, white pepper, and a whiff of smoke in the back.
Palate: A vinous and sweet start on the palate before a salty kick of nougat and toffee takes over. This is followed by a pleasant warmth of pepper, nutmeg and oak. Slightly bitter notes of dark chocolate emerge, complemented by sea salt and sweet cherry fruitiness towards the finish. A rollercoaster of sweet and salty flavours.
Finish: The finish is long and significant salty with notes of tobacco leaves and warm spice. Slightly drying with fragrant oak on the tail.
With water: Water tames the fruitiness on the nose, bringing more spices, oak, and smoke to the fore. Significantly salty on the palate with bitter fruit, pink grapefruit in particular, tender spiced oak, pepper, and nutmeg. The finish is medium long, subtle sweet and drying with more oak on the tail.
Comments: This is a very satisfying old malt. You would never guess this was 36 years old as the oakiness is only moderately noticeable. Great life, balance and lots of character. A truly bipolar acquaintance - sweet and fruity with a significant saltiness. It’s like a sunshine walk by the sea.

I thank the German importer Whiskymax for sample and photograph!

Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Very fruity and aromatic on the nose with ripe berries, gooseberry in particular, and floral notes. A hint of pepper emerges, accompanied by ginger, oak and a slightly maritime edge in the back. A very fine and inebriant nose indeed.
Palate: Sweet and creamy on the palate. Ripe garden fruits complemented by a beautiful warmth of delicate spices - ginger, white pepper and oak. Prickling fruit emerges, it's like sherbet, followed by slightly bitter notes of orange peel and pink grapefruit. Good texture with a delicious taste.
Finish: A delightful and rather long finish. Creamy, warm ginger spice and oak on the tongue with sticky fruit jam and a slightly bitterness on the tail.
With water: There's almost no change on the nose with water. The sweetness on the palate is slightly decreased with tamed spices and significantly more bitterness. The finish is medium long, creamy, slightly warm with more bitter notes on the tail.
Comments: A very fine and delicate old dram. No water required, as this brought out an unpleasant bitterness for me. A very satisfying example of an aged malt with charm and class. The sherry is rather discreet, but it's a delicious experience, nonetheless.

I thank Dailydram.de for sample and photograph!

Colour: Gold.
Nose: Fresh and clean on the nose with lots of peat and a slight touch of sweet smoke. Briny with tender coal tar and a delicate fruitiness behind - green apples and pears. Mineral with a scent of seaweed in the back. Quite appealing.
Palate: Surprising sweet start on the palate. Barley sugar mingles with delicate fruits - pears and melons, complemented by a nicely warm mix of spice - cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Briny towards the finish with seaweed, pepper and smouldering wood. Delicate sweet peat is ever-present.
Finish: A delightful medium finish. Initially sweet and warm with malted barley and peat smoke, before dry oak and a whiff of citrus take over. A finish that would be welcomed to stay for ages.
With water: Water almost completely tames the delicate sweetness with peat and smoke coming to the fore. The sweetness on the palate is still present but very subtle with allspice and pepper becoming the dominant flavours. The finish is rather short and gentle warming. Peat and smoke have taken a back seat.
Comments: A very nice and easy drinking all day dram for those who prefer smoky and peated whisky. Would be a good match for seafood. Absolutely great price for an 8 year old Bunnahabhain. But no water please!

I thank the German importer Hanseatische Weinhandelsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG for sample and photograph!

Colour: Bright amber.
Nose: Mature notes of dried red fruit, with a melange of sherry, dates, raisins, demerara sugar and madeira cake. Notes of allspice emerge with oak, cinnamon, ginger, a bit of celery salt, and a breeze of sea in the back. With time, delicate chocolate, honey and walnuts arrive with lingering menthol notes. Very complex indeed.
Palate: A creamy almost silky texture, with liquorice, baked apples, sherry flavours, raisins and slightly bitter orange peel. This is immediately complemented by a pleasant spiciness with allspice, oak tannins, a touch of pepper and gentle ginger. Well balanced and lively with dark honey and a whiff of sea salt in the back and a herbal dry but creamy end.
Finish: A medium long finish. Pleasantly sweet at first with dark honey, then gets dry on the tail with lingering herbal notes, organge peel, nutmeg, oak and subtle pepper. Quite warm and creamy on the tongue.
With water: Water tames the fruitiness on the nose while the spicy flavours become more prominent. This change continues on the palate with more pepper and allspice on the tongue. The finish is medium long with warm and prickling spice. Increasingly vibrant!
Comments: A very satisfying old malt. Still very well balanced with a significant influence of oak but delicate mature fruity flavours and lingering honey notes as counterpart. Old Bunnahabhain, made of non-peated barley and matured in sherry casks - you cannot go wrong with them.

I thank Whisky-Doris (Versandhandel Doris Debbeler) for sample and photograph!

Colour: Dark amber.
Nose: What a wonderful nose! Initially, there is a huge amount of liquorice, complemented by black cherries, prunes and raisins. Thick, bold and creamy. A big note of rum soaked fruit cake emerges with oranges and dark chocolate. With time, a whiff of old leather is coming through along with polished furniture and a slight perfume note. The sherry isn't dominant at all. Wonderful balanced with a constantly changing aroma.
Palate: The sweetness of treacle toffee and molasses is immediately present on the palate along with more sherry than in the nose. It is thick, viscous and creamy with crème brûlée, malted barley, roasted walnuts and a gentle herbal touch. Bitter dark chocolate, cocoa powder and even espresso notes emerge, leaving the mouth pleasantly dry. A remarkable whisky.
Finish: Quite long and sweet. Gets drier in the end with a touch of allspice and lingering liquorice.
With water: More spice and reduced sweetness on the nose and palate, with significantly increased herbal and malty flavours, leading to a long and warm finish. Delicious.
Comments: This is a thick, rich and enticing whisky. Not an old but well aged malt with lots of charm and class, which hasn't been too long in the cask. A glorious deep, elegant and delicate Bunnahabhain.

Colour: Bright gold.
Nose: Inebriant with a huge amount of tropical fruit, tangerines, coconuts, and yellow ripe pears. Lots of vanilla is coming through complemented by honey and beeswax tones. Lingering toffee notes emerge with a delicate nuttiness and some herbal notes. A gorgeous nose!
Palate: The nose didn't promise too much. Full of overripe tropical fruit, thick apricot marmalade, cooked quince, mango, passion fruit and banana. Sticky blossom honey and vanilla emerge with lingering oak spice, subtle cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg underneath. Complex and delicious.
Finish: A long and clean finish, sweet with lingering tropical fruitiness and dry oak spice, complemented by a slightly bitterness of cold black tea.
With water: Water has almost no alleviative effect on the fruitiness but slightly increases the spiciness. Well balanced still.
Comments: This is a very delicate, old-style Bunnahabhain with a fantastic nose. Very complex on the palate with a great balance of fruit and spice. Could have been filled at higher strength but hey, this is 45 years old! An inebriant experience!

Colour: Mahogany.
Nose: The nose starts off with lots of sherry flavours, complemented by slightly woody notes, and polished mahogany furniture. A hint of balsamic vinegar emerges, very creamy, along with a whiff of smoke. Surprisingly, there's no fruit.
Palate: Boy, this is initially bold and mouth-coating. Voluptuous with sherry, brown sugar sweetness, along with some woody tones, cinnamon, lingering oak spice and subtle smoke. Surprisingly dry on the palate.
Finish: Medium to long and warm finish. Doesn't change much though.
With water: Still sweet on the nose with lots of sherry, an increased spiciness on the palate, followed by a medium and warm finish.
Comments: This is a very nice sherried and unpeated bunnahabhain. Not the most complex dram on the planet but rather straight down the line. Delicate sweetness but lacks the delicious dark ripe fruits mostly accompanied by heavily sherried whiskies.

Colour: Dark amber.
Nose: Starts dry on the nose. Beautifully balanced sherry aromas with lots of dried fruit, plums, cherries, rum soaked raisins, zesty orange and heather honey complemented by delicate chocolate and leathery notes with a whiff of smoke and nutty tones. Very complex and multilayer. The aroma is alternate changing in waves again and again. A dram to be nosed four hours!
Palate: Again sherry plays a big role here. There’s luscious, rich fruit cake with stewed plum, cherries, sultanas, orange before dark chocolate, leathery notes and tobacco favours take over. Earthy with a subtle bitterness. Not at all overpowered by the alcohol, very well-balanced.
Finish: The finish is gloriously long, warm and sweet with lingering sherry, tobacco and dark chocolate.
With water: At first there's increased sweetness with succulent fruit, quickly followed by spicy flavours, oak and hints of nutts complementing the underlying earthy edge.
Comments: A complex, well-balanced, sherried whisky. Bold, intense but rounded with a gorgeous nose. A warming winter dram, balancing sweety/fruity and earthy/leathery notes nicely.

Colour: Dark amber.
Nose: Strong, bold and rich. Intense sherry flavours, toffee and aromatic dark honey. Dark dried fruits, rum soaked cherries coated with fine bitter chocolate. The alcohol is well-integrated but still present on the nose. Very delicate!
Palate: Lively with a rich sherry sweetness, along with black cherries, dark chocolate and fine marzipan tones. Nutty with a hint of tobacco and smoke arising on the middle. Soft and prickling oaky spice.
Finish: Strong and quite long. Intense but smooth in the end. Luscious sherry sweetness and X-mas spice. Very harmonious!
With water: Softer, even silky with a creamy sweetness of sherry, cherries, significantly more marzipan and nutty tones. Water tames the alcohol and emphasises the cask's sweetness.
Comments: Nomen est omen. This is truly an excellent example of a X-mas dram. Bold, intense, warm sherried whisky with lingering fruity sweetness and spice. The structure is well-balanced. Another great shot from The Whisky Chamber. Well done!

I thank the German independent bottler The Whisky Chamber for the photo.

Colour: Bright gold with red reflections.
Nose: A lot is going on here. Sweet and sherried maritime nose. Orange marmalade and dark dried fruits (blueberry, raspberry), raisins mixed with damped wood. Earthy and leathery notes, ginger spice and a hint of cinnamon. Typical Bunnahabhain style with pleasant balsamic vinegar.
Palate: Wow! Sweet arrival of dried dark fruits, ginger and cinnamon spice, nutmeg. Silky, bold and very complex. Earthy notes with malted barley and delicate toffee. Hints of leather and dark bitter chocolate shines through. Very will integrated and balanced.
Finish: Quite long and intense. Sweet fruitiness with lots of spice, pepper, dark dry chocolate and tobacco. Ends in a slightly salty finish.
With water: Water tamed the fruity and sherry sweetness and increased the spiciness of this dram. The is a slight boost of saltiness.
Comments: A complex, full-bodied and great balanced whisky with an impressive finish. Excellent drinkable, at best on the shore at Bunnahabhain distillery with a nice view to the paps of Jura.

Colour: Deep amber
Nose: Full and rich with lots of treacle sherry, dark ripe fruits, alcohol-soaked cherries. Smells like liquid black forrest cherry cake. Marzipan and raisins, all the typically suspects one might expert from this sherry bomb. Chocolate and hints of oak come through at the end.
Palate: Wow! Full explosion of all the flavours from the nose. Sweetness, sherry, lots of cherries and raisins, marzipan and fine dark chocolate. Very thick indeed.
Finish: Quite long and warm finish with lots of sherry and marzipan. Creamy, dates and oak spices.
With water: Stays creamy and keeps the sweetness of the old sherry and dark fruits. Very pleasant to drink.
Comments: Wow - this is a real sherry bomb. Outstanding and excellent. But one has to like these flavours of dark fruits, old sherry, marzipan and raisins. But as I very much appreciate a piece of black forest cherry cake this Bunnahabhain definitely is my liquid alternative.