Отзывы Whiskybase
учтено 150 заметок · текстовых 86 · полный lossless-снимок WB (полнота подтверждена)
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Насыщенный шерри-профиль с сухофруктами, орехами, шоколадом, специями и морскими/солёными нотами; встречаются жалобы на сернистые ноты, дубовую горечь и завышенную цену. Мнения о сложности и цене расходятся.
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Виски описывают как мощный и насыщенный, с доминирующим шерри, сухофруктами (изюм, инжир, чернослив), орехами, шоколадом, специями, ванилью, ирисками, иногда дымом и солёно-минеральными/морскими нотами. Финиш хвалят как длинный и тёплый; часть отзывов отмечает, что вкус раскрывается после добавления воды и требует времени в бокале. Херес называют «делающим всю погоду», а финиш местами «почти весь херес». Крепость бочковых версий даёт мощность, но требует воды для раскрытия. При этом часть отзывов указывает, что морской характер дистиллерии выражен слабее ожидаемого, а из-за доминирующего дозревания в хересных бочках сам характер дистиллята слабо различим.
Мнения расходятся: одни называют виски простым, предсказуемым и не слишком сложным, другие — очень сложным для своей категории; часть предпочитает обычную 12-летнюю версию бочковой, другие считают лучше обычного 12-летнего и даже предпочитают «легендарному» релизу. Неоднократно звучат жалобы на серные/резиновые и «грязные» ноты, «яичный» дефект, излишнюю дубовость, горечь, вяжущесть, плохо интегрированный спирт и дисгармонию; отдельно упоминаются искусственно интенсивная сладость и разрозненные горькие ноты. Цена оценивается неоднозначно — от «оправдано» до «завышено» и «переоценённость». Также упоминается, что европейская версия понравилась больше китайской, а партия одного года показалась лучше другой.
собрано 86/150 текстовых отзывов · полный lossless-снимок WB
· 2026-10-08T05:30:22Z · источник evidence
Really robust whisky, costal character is not pronounced as I imagined but definitely worth trying
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 93 | Mineral, Cellar, Overripe fruit, Vanilla, even a little herbal, heavy, fatty |
| Вкус | 83 | Salty, sherry influence, fruity, mineral, a little anise, hits of older cognac, a little sour |
| Финиш | 85 | Dark chocolate, slightly dry, chocolate orange |
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 84
#Blindtasting A very spicy dram, but balanced and tasty.
Controversial I know, but I actually prefer this to the legendary 2022.
нос 90 · вкус 90 · финиш 89
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 87
Sweet and spicy, a lot of dried fruits and nuts, balanced wood influence, not very maritime but quite drinkable - little water recommended - pretty good overall
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 89 | Intense, dried fruits, nuts, raisins, plums, figs, cinnamon, hints of rum soaked cherries, tobacco, brown sugar, whiffs of molasses, sherry wood - pretty good |
| Вкус | 89 | Punchy, oily, creamy, good sweetness, more dried fruits, plums, raisins, cherries, caramel, tobacco, spices, cinnamon, nuts, sherry wood - still good |
| Финиш | 88 | Long, burning, spicy, fruity, woody |
нос 89 · вкус 87 · финиш 88
Beautiful, powerful bunnahabhain, sherry influence and higher alcohol content go well together here and would be a fine addition to the standard range for me. But it's not a “must-have malt” for me.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Quite intense and varied beginning on the nose, dried fruits like figs, raisins, plums, all in all rather dark fruity, malty, sweet with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, in addition there are different wood aromas from old musty wood to fresh sawdust, nuts and a little caramel. In the background some grape-rum-nut-chocolate |
| Вкус | 87 | a little more sweetness on the palate, plus the dried fruits which are also accompanied by fresh bananas, cherries and oranges. The sweetness changes every now and then from honey sweetness to a malty sweetness to dark chocolate. All in all, nice and warming in the mouth with an oily, peppery oak flavor without being bitter. |
| Финиш | 86 | Medium-long finish, oak spice remains, little fruit remains, some coffee and chocolate, |
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 85 | very thick raisins, blackberry, syrup, very nutty, and chocolates. |
| Вкус | 86 | Chocolate, nuts, milky way nougat/caramel, intense cocoa yet very dry at the same time. |
| Финиш | 86 | Dry and medium-long, nutty, long lasting baking spices. |
An unexpectedly pleasant malt. Very good with a pipe or a cigar. It remains to be hoped that the next batches will be no worse. 2212
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | A mixture of nuts, dark raisins and linden flowers. No alcoholism. |
| Вкус | 87 | Dry, dried apples, raisins, cinnamon, spicy (peppered), slightly salty |
| Финиш | 86 | Medium length, spicy and salty. |
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
нос 86 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
Probably the best I've tried this year! Gorgeous! Sherry in moderation, chic spins!
The oak is maybe a touch too present, but the 2021 Edition of the Bunnahabhain 12 Years Cask Strength has a lot going for it.
нос 88 · вкус 89 · финиш 87
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
нос 86 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
Der "normale" 12er in Trinkstärke ist schon super aber der Cask Strength ist noch besser! Er verwöhnt mit viel Orange, Haselnuss und vielen Gewürzen.
Very nice, full bodied whisky with lots of dried fruits (especially figs) , malty sweetness, dark chocolate, nutty, salty caramel, coffee beans and some spices. It has different cask recipe than the regular 12. Seems regular 12 has more bourbon casks in vatting, here sherry is more dominant (and we think PX also). Bourbon sweetness comes later. Finish is peppery, sweet and dried fruits. Not overly complex dram, but very well balanced, no off note. For a 70-80€ we think it's very enjoyable! 6.5/10
Unexpectedly good. Chocolate, salt, spices. The finish is short. 22-21-21-22
27.12.2021
нос 86 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
Typical Bunnahabhain. The 12 as a sequel. I like it, very consistent and tasty. An undeniably good malt, but lacking in excitement. The successful 12y model was bottled here with a little more alcohol, maybe a little more sherry, but that makes the malt to be expected. As expected, but not particularly interesting. Easy drinking at a high level.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 85 | Sweet on the nose, sherry, amazingly clean, some walnuts, a subtle freshness, but otherwise sherry sweetness, dried fruit. |
| Вкус | 85 | Great start in the mouth, here comes sherry, wood, salt, lots of Bunnahabhain power. |
| Финиш | 85 | The finish is long, spicy, herbal, also salty with sherry, some wood and a minimal mineral note, towards the end it is also rather dry. |
нос 84 · вкус 82 · финиш 81
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 88
нос 82 · вкус 83 · финиш 84
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 85 | strong sherry, lemon peel, green apple, a bit of smoke, young oak, acetone |
| Вкус | 84 | delicate, semi-sweet, slightly spicy, biting tongue, anise, vanilla |
| Финиш | 84 | medium long, warming, oak, slightly bitter end with chamois leather |
For me, Bunnahabhain is one of the few Islay distilleries whose standard range, as I still don't want to completely resume the way of peat (purely because of the taste, this should not be a statement about quality or similar!). (I now include the 12CS in this) appeals to me. Precisely because of the absence of the very distinctive Islay peat smoke. The 12 and 18 have already been tasted. In the first tasting, the Bunnahabhain 12er CS was compared with the standard 12er and the 12er Glenlivet The Ultimate CS from the sherry cask. Our dear Bunnahabhain scored very highly here! Of course, the question arises: does anything justify the now (at least) double price of the 12CS compared to the 12? I think the answer will vary greatly from person to person. Quite objectively, you have a "small" batch bottling at cask strength. Batch after batch and all WITH an age statement. If you look around the market for original bottlings, you will hardly find cheaper malts that meet these criteria. In this respect: at least an OK. Compared to the standard, which I like very much, this one is clearly a step up. Details below.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Parallels to the 12 are obvious. However, the CS much more intense. The alcohol is EXCELLENT integrated! Nut bonds, maritime notes and a beautifully integrated sherry cask influence are prominent here. Very complex and exciting. |
| Вкус | 88 | A bit reserved at first, then it unfolds via sweetness, wood tones, some pepperiness and wood tones to dark chocolate. In the background is some honey. |
| Финиш | 89 | The chocolate lingers for a moment and then the malt shifts towards the fruity side. Candied Cherry! Great interplay! Then a little drier. Finally oak and again some dark chocolate with a light salt note. For friends of the 12 Bunnahabhain who want a little more thrill and more of everything: my recommendation! |
Nose: full aromas, round, dried fruit (raisins, figs, dates), hazelnut, leather, apples and oranges, some milk coffee, maritime notes, marzipan Palate: creamy, full aromas, sweet dried fruit (as above), apples, oranges, red berries, marzipan, maritime, spicy wood Finish: medium to long, warm, dried fruit, marzipan, orange, spicy wood Rating: delicious whisky with full aromas and a clear sherry impact, which plays the main role here. Unfortunately, the distillate sinks a little, but it doesn't bother us any further. This is probably about the barrels. 87/100 or 6/10
Strong and tasty, but a bit too sherry-heavy and bitter in the finish.
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
A really nice Bunnahabhain for the issue price. As if you had turned up the volume on the regular 12s. Unfortunately, the malt lacks a deep variety of aromas, no comparison to the 18. Nice nose, drinkable and with potential for dilution.
нос 85 · вкус 85 · финиш 84
The malt needs a good portion of air and hand warmth to release aromas. In the taste he then does More on. The sherry barrels bring a nice fruit. The finish has far too strong tannins for me.
нос 86 · вкус 88 · финиш 83
нос 86 · вкус 88 · финиш 86
нос 87 · вкус 84 · финиш 83
нос 85 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
It feels like the regular 12 y.o. style and quality-wise, just not watered down.
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
It has been possible to largely preserve the qualities of the "normal" 12-year-old and simply bottle it at cask strength. The outstanding nuttiness of the "normal" 12-year-old has suffered a little. But sherry note and caramel aromas are still present. Good this way.
нос 88 · вкус 89 · финиш 89
Certainly good for a price of €75, but overpriced for the prices asked. This bunna needs to be given a lot of time in the glass to develop.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Lots of alcohol, including citrus notes and sherry; Spices and oak notes |
| Вкус | 86 | peppery-spicy fruit, oak and a clear note of sherry |
| Финиш | 87 | Nice oak notes and some salty caramel |
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
I like this bottling. It looks very untamed but still very round and harmonious. In addition to the strong spiciness, it also brings a nice sweetness and the distillery style comes through well. The original issue price of around €120 was of course quite ambitious, but for less than €90 I was able to buy it without hesitation.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 88 | It is well worth letting it breathe in the glass for a quarter of an hour. The alcohol is relatively well integrated, full-bodied, nutty and slightly sweet, perfume-like sherry notes waft out of the glass. Baked apples, pickled cherries, vanilla, juicy raisins, roasted nuts, tobacco, dry wood, prunes, dried apricots, spicy oak. |
| Вкус | 89 | Powerful attack with very nice spice. Slightly tart, but also very sweet. The alcohol brings with it a decent sharpness, which is still well within limits. Crumbled vanilla sticks, rum raisins, dark chocolate, pickled cherries, juicy brownies, beechnuts, strong oak spices. |
| Финиш | 88 | Mid-length finish. Chocolate, cherries, spicy oak. |
The big brother of the basic 12-year-old from 2021. Barrel-strength and finished in sherry barrels.
Spicy, mineral and dessert! New furniture, glue, barley porridge, raw bread, barrel-aged chardonnay, hazelnuts, salted caramel, custard, milk chocolate, toffee, sulfur, rotten apple, fried meat.
нос 88 · вкус 86 · финиш 87
The smell is great, that's how a whisky should smell. I don't mean the specific aromas, but the intensity, the complexity, the power. In terms of taste, the variety diminishes somewhat, but a beautiful harmony and raw power remain. The finish rounds everything off perfectly. Fantastic whisky. I don't need anything more.
Nase: süß, Kirsche, dunkle Trockenfrüchte, Gewürze, Eiche, Malz ••• Geschmack: süß, würzig, Eiche, Kirsche, Kakao, Malz, leicht moderiges Holz ••• Abgang: Mittellang, süßes Malz mit etwas dunkler Kirsche, etwas dunkle Trockenfrüchte und ein bisschen bittere Kirschen- Schale bleiben. ••• Fazit: In der Nase kommen anfangs süße Noten, Kirsche dunklen Trockenfrüchten. Anschließende habe ich Gewürze und Eiche. Malz ist in der zweiten Reihe zu finden. Außerdem habe ich noch eine Note die mich an Bratensoße erinnert. Im Geschmack geht es kräftig los. Süße, würzige Noten mit Eiche und dunkler, fast getrockneter Kirsche kommen zu Beginn. Kakao und Malz folgen. Nach einer Weile kommt eine Note von leicht moderigem Holz. Ein insgesamt sehr schöner Whisky der allerdings nicht super komplex. Die Fassstärke gibt ihm ordentlich Kraft. Fehlnoten habe ich keine. ••• 86-87
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
Relatively simple in its variety of flavors. For my taste it can take some water. It's easy to drink - you can do it, but you don't have to - you don't miss the big hit, as the great attention around the bottle makes it appear.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 85 | dark berry fruits; cherries; dried fruits; Spices; delicate vanilla; salty caramel; Chocolate; Oak |
| Вкус | 84 | cute; dried fruits; raisins; dark cherries; chocolate notes; Pepper; plus sparkling oak spice |
| Финиш | 84 | peppery-spicy; dried fruits; coffee beans; dark nut chocolate; tart, spicy oak wood |
Nutty sherry bit coastal, very nice
mildly sweet on the nose and thick chocolate and raisins on the pallet. a Great 12 year old and cask strength is unnoticed with flavour. Great dram. Will be buying another.
I had high expectation when this bottle was announced. But the biggest disappointment was it’s price. Unfortunately they failed in getting this into the market for a normal price. Therefor I left this bottling aside but I did want to try a sample someday. Just to know what they made out of it aside from the price.
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
Yes, yes... it is unfortunately "normal" that dealers on the German market in particular keep escalating and disproportionately increasing their prices! But if you could buy the malt for just over 70 euros, maybe even 80, you've hit the jackpot!
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 90 | Without adding water and after resting for about 15 minutes in the Glencairn, the Bunnahabhain immediately reveals intense aromas of dried, cooked plums with a good pinch of cinnamon. I also smell cool sea air and Oloroso sherry. The alcohol is excellently integrated and carries the clearly dark fruit aromas with an association of matured, brown rum wonderfully into the nose. With more time and after adding a few drops of water, associations of dusty, old books, cognac and amarena cherries are added. |
| Вкус | 90 | The cask-strength version of Bunna is also completely convincing on the tongue, and the alcohol content here also carries the notes of dried plums excellently. With a few drops of water, the malt seems almost oilier in the glass and on the tongue. In addition, hints of cinnamon are revealed again, now with yeast pastries, butteriness and salted caramel. The latter remains on the tip of the tongue and provides a wonderful counterpoint to the oak notes, the dark fruit aromas and the maritime impressions. As time progresses, tobacco and leatheriness also join the taste impressions described. |
| Финиш | 89 | The finish is noticeably long and fills the mouth and throat with a pleasant, warming sensation. Here, too, a slight saltiness remains, which further underlines the emerging and lingering espresso notes together with a subtle and yet almost sticky sweetness (certainly the clear sherry cask influence). |
But the English got a really fine bottling from Bunnahabhain. Nice sherry-heavy aromas on the nose. But it's not one of those modern supercharged sherry bombs. On the contrary. In my opinion, the taste needs some support from water. But then it will be really delicious and harmonious. And a really great long finish. In short, a beautiful whisky, almost a little old school.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 88 | There's no denying the aging in ex-sherry casks. Rich aromas of raisins and dried fruits such as figs and dates immediately rise from the glass. Together with caramelized nuts and dark red berries, the result is a clearly sherry-heavy odor profile. This is enhanced by cinnamon and a slightly musty undertone. With more standing time and calm, vanilla and English orange marmalade with preserved orange zest are added to the potpourri of aromas. A slight spiciness, less ginger or chilli but more like black pepper from the mill, shows up again and again when you smell it. With the addition of water and a dilution to perhaps around 50% or slightly below, the orange influence becomes stronger and a relationship to the normal 12 year old is undeniable. Slightly lighter with more vanilla and less sherry. |
| Вкус | 88 | Undiluted, the whisky begins with a creamy and full mouthfeel. The initial honey sweetness is quickly replaced by a surprisingly intense spiciness. Raisins with nuts and dark chocolate coated in cinnamon. It quickly becomes quite astringent in the mouth - the 55%+ are emphatically showing their power. Diluting it with water makes it really tasty. The sweetness, now less honey and more towards caramel and nougat, can be tasted longer. The fruit component now consists of juicy pieces of orange and red berries such as raspberries and blackberries. Cinnamon and the spiciness are still strong. Overall more harmonious and balanced. |
| Финиш | 89 | The oak quickly sets accents with a moderate bitter note at the end. But old leather and dried tobacco leaves are also present in the finish. Overall, the finish with its clearly aromatic oak can be classified as really long. |
A tasty and solid whisky. I should give him more time. 84 points?
Sometimes I don't understand certain ratings. The malt could have been so nice, nice sherry aromas, nuts, fruits, vanilla, ... if it wasn't for the sulphur. Not fireworks, but rubber. I like this sulfur even less. He is not dominant and I can understand that not everyone can perceive this. For me, however, it clouds the overall picture considerably.
Unfortunately, the post-ripening is too dominant. Distillery character is hard to find.
thanks bunna, finally a CS version from the brilliant 12y unfortunately nothing special and therefor overpriced/overhyped i like the 2nd edition much more
нос 88 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
Quality sherried dram with creamy, salty and maritime notes. Extremely spicy and sharp in the taste at first, needs time to get used to it. Overwoody given it's just 12 years, but very pleasant overall
нос 89 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
Heavily sherried but lacking a sense of harmony at all.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 84 | Worcester sauce, balsamico vinegar, sage, Magi sauce, along with some ginger, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and maraschino. Some animal fur and costal stone, while rosewoods and cranberries also added acidity to the nose |
| Вкус | 84 | Oily and rich-bodied. Burnt sugar, salted caramel, with tart fruit showing the modern sherry influence. ripe raspberry and very sour and poignant lemon |
| Финиш | 83 | Drying and unpleasant finish. Wood spices and oak bitterness that later subdued. Acidity of citrus and balsamic maintained. A bit sulfuric. Whipping cream |
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 85
Better than standard 12yo. N: like good red vine, sweet & sour dark fruit T: a lot of salt, lemon, dryness, alcohol is present here, sour fruit, short finish
The typical Bunnah characteristics burst out of the glass. Roasted nuts, salty sea, seaweed. They form a beautiful harmony with the sherry influences. It is warm, spicy and fruity. Complexity: 87 Intensity: 88 Price quality, a bit on the high side. I would happily pay around €60 to €65 for it.
Very cool bottling from Bunnahabhain. For a long time now, an affordable new bottling that stands out from the crowd. Intense fruit and flavor with chocolate and the ever-present Bunna distillery character. Very complex for this price range. Conclusion: great
Cute Bunna, surprised many people complain about the simplicity or lack of depth. Hey this kid is only 12 years old. I was confused by something else ..
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Lots of dried fruits, orange jam, a crust of bread. Unfortunately, the scent is spoiled by a dirty note of mustiness, rotten wood, possibly sulfur. |
| Вкус | 87 | The balance is good. The taste is a complete extension of the nose. Coffee and salt are added. The dirty note is there too. |
| Финиш | 86 | Short to medium, quite salty. |
нос 87 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
starts heavy on matches and a bit of sherry. the sulphurous note overpowers everything. the sulphur vanishes with time and oxigen, but comes back again and again. the fruits are on the light side. nothing too dark in the mix. overpriced and overhyped. I really anticipated this one. too bad it's that disappointing. with water: ... and here is the heavy match and sulphur note again. nothing much happens. does not change a lot. maybe it's too much sulphur you need to get trough not my type of whisky.
нос 76 · вкус 73 · финиш 72
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 83
нос 85 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
tested after the 2022; I like it a lot, but find the 2022 even more complex, "darker" and more intense. In my opinion, the 21er has more nut aromas, a little more sweetness (especially here I felt more marzipan and milk chocolate); the 22, on the other hand, is a bit drier/dustier and has "more" sherry fruit. In my eyes, the 21 has gotten more bitterness in taste; I didn't notice that so much on the 22. [91 - 87 = extremely tasty -> I'd better get a second bottle] (personally I think the batch of 22 is better; if you don't have a comparison, this one is still a board)
нос 88 · вкус 86 · финиш 87
Immediately after opening it got 85 points, but after a few days it got even better and I now give it 87 points. Nose: Toffee, strong sherry notes, oak Taste: chocolate, nuts, spices, oak, Finish: Medium long, malt, sherry, some spices
The nose starts with lots of dried fruit. There are also vanilla, nuts and dirty oak. The taste is very oily and already intense at the start. Then there is orange, vanilla and chocolate, before plums make their presence felt. The finish then has sweet and sour notes, plus dark dried fruit again. A nice sherry whisky at cask strength. The 55.1% ABV gives a nice intensity. I can't find any off notes and the whisky isn't particularly complex either. Still a nice Bunnahabhain.
нос 86 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
Lovely elements, need time in glass and the dram opens up beautifully. Color: Caramel Gold Nose: Some bite initially. With some time, caramel, dried fruits, touch of leather. Taste: A touch of bittersweetness, follow by vanilla, chocolate and light peppery spice. Adding water opens up the dried fruits. Finish: Medium, warm finish of lightly dried fruits
The 2021 European version tasted great, but the 2021 Chinese version was terrible; I don't know why. I'd give the European version 88 points and the Chinese version 86 points.
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
нос 87 · вкус 89 · финиш 88
Rough, oloroso-heavy, dirty and dusty.. sweet, nutty.. with cyanide and green wood spikes
Expectations were high as this is the first batch of cask strength 12yo that has been added to Bunnahabhain's core range since 2021. The nose is great cinema, but unfortunately everything that comes after it can't keep up. Let's see how the next batches will turn out.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 88 | Raisins in sherry, grape seeds, dark chocolate, nougat, almonds, walnuts. Subtle barrel muff and cellar mold, both very tasty in combination with the raisins. Damp forest floor, clay. |
| Вкус | 86 | Powerful start, the 55.1% really comes into its own on the tongue. Blackberries, blueberries, raisins, dry oak, hazelnuts and walnuts, almonds. Dried Orange Peels. Over time, dryness spreads, the fruit notes fade into the background, more room for dark chocolate, nougat, toffee and coffee beans. |
| Финиш | 85 | A just medium long finish. Increasingly dry. Dark chocolate with fine pepper spice, almonds. |
нос 87 · вкус 89 · финиш 88
Bunnahabhain makes weird, unpronounceable NAS whiskys that may all be ok in some way - but that's the worst judgment you can make about a whisky. Then there is the 12-year-old, the usual 46.3% vol with the Distell. is also somehow ok, non chillfiltered, uncoloured. What more do you want? The 12-year-old in Cask Strength, of course, because only he offers the full Bunnahabhain experience. Or not? www.glen-efze.de
Malty, plastic and oily, which are often felt in old sherry whisky, easier to drink than alcohol strength, and the character unique to the distillery is relatively small.
A tasty and delicious malt whisky, without a sweet sherry bomb character, but with a lot of variety. The palate experience is characterized by typical Bunna specialties and powerful spiciness. A whole lot was added to the standard -12 (not just because of the volume percentages). Absolute recommendation from me.
нос 88 · вкус 89 · финиш 86
The sherry is a dry nutty with a hint of matchstick, the character dna of the distillery is very much alive and amplified to 10. The sour note just isn’t one I enjoy in many whiskies and it hurts this score for me
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 88 | Nutty, pungent sherry, it has a musty cellar note, chocolate covered raisins, |
| Вкус | 87 | Saskatoon berries, baking spices, pepper, caramel |
| Финиш | 87 | Tart sour candies, tangy sherry, smidge of camphor, |
And there was also a little bunna battle. The old 12 from the black box vs the new 12CS. I think they're both very good. Both purchase candidates. You can tell the other vatting on the 12CS. And especially in the nose it is beautifully harmonious, round and smelling good. No trace of alcohol. It can also be drunk neat in small sips. Good distillate.
New bottle 1st pour. Nose: Rasins, dark cherry, sticky figs, sweet brown sugar/caramel, smoked bacon. Really sweet and fruity. Taste: Orange peel & Rasins up front. Smoke coming through with some malty sweetness there. Finish: long finish that lasts well. Coffee beans, dark chocolate & smokey bacon close the show. Very enjoyable, and complex. Despite the abv it's very drinkable too. 88 points from me
Blind tasting: First impression was slightly smoky, then Springbank, now just sulphurized sherry. In the second nose then lighter fruit, less sulfur obviously, an appetizing amount of oak, now finally some Oloroso from the older school, tree sap, dried oranges, delicious. Wood and sulphurised young sherry in the mouth. Tree sap and some resin, ok. Woody-fruity finish. Well, I've drunk worse sherry whiskies, but the sulfur spoils the tour again... It's not better than the old GF105 from the Battle. I also suspect around 56%. Middle age ~15yo, probably too expensive. Sniffed the glass again later, eggs first, uargh. I just didn't want a bottle as a present...
нос 84 · вкус 83 · финиш 82
Floral, malty, salted caramel, coffee, dark honey, ginger. Lots of milk chocolate and vanilla on the palate. Dried fruits and oak. A little orange citrus peeks through as well. Water helps massively. I think this is less sherried than the standard 12 year old but that's not a complaint. There's penty to unpick. Creamy mouthfeel. Delicious dram, if a little pricey.
нос 86 · вкус 89 · финиш 88
A good choice if you are pursuing the existing Bunahaven 12 more intensely!
hmmmm, he's ok I can't understand the hype and for me it's not worth the extra money. I'll stick with the normal 12.
Give me the regular 12-year-old over this any day of the week. If you tinker with water patiently, you get a moderately pleasant whisky, but then why go for the much more expensive cask strength version in the first place? Count me out on this one.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 80 | The first impression is hot and spicy, moderately sherried, faintly nutty and saline, with associations of nougat, baking spices, extractive / active oak, and a noticeable alcoholic bite. Not overly impressive, at least without water. More time in the glass reveals a youngish yeasty scent. Perhaps 78 points on the nose so far. Water improves it a bit. I'd say we get more of the ex-bourbon components now, with a fragrant and sweet aspect. Certainly better this way, I'm raising my score accordingly. |
| Вкус | 77 | Pretty aggressive without water, with newish, peppery oak and modern seasoning sherry and sulphur as the dominant flavors. About 75 points in undiluted form initially, though it improves after it's been left to breathe for a bit, which takes off some of the sharpness. With water, it remains quite hot and peppery (and also sulphuric), whereas the texture and flavors diminish increasingly the more you dilute it. Not ideal, I find it hard to find a sweet spot here. |
| Финиш | 78 | Roast coffee and indistinct red fruit with a faint maritime tang. Rough and rather hot. |
Bunnahabhain 12 yo Cask Strength 2021 Ed 55.1%. 30ml sample at home, May 2022. Amber orange. Aroma is crystalised ginger and waxy red apple, sherry ... sniffing deeper I get more of that waxiness that almost starts hinting towards brown sauce and chlorine, some musty oak. After a sip or two some fudginess comes through, fruited fudge. Also some blackcurrant cordial. It more or less settles on those notes over time. Some lesser green apple and Aftershock liqueur, gluey notes. The aroma improved over the course of the dram. Not great up front, but redeems itself. Body is lightly oily. Although the taste is led by the casks the oak isn’t coming through too literally, the flavours are deep dried fruits and spices. A figgy impression is overcome by black pepper and chilli flakes. There are some impressions of ‘burntness’ but this comes from the oak char - as we all know, this is famously unpeated spirit. The casks here are good ones and emptied properly prior to use. Good cask management and selection. I have admittedly not been a big Bunnahabhain fan based on past experiences (excepting Moine expressions) but this is good and much, much better than their standard 12 expression. The current trend for producers to put out cask strength NCF natural colour versions of their standard expressions is fantastic - long may it continue for the good of their whiskies’ reputations and for the benefit of consumers. This just kept on growing on me. Ignoring the average first impression of the aroma I’ve settled on a score of 3.65/87
Interesting whisky, quite some alcohol in the nose, but relatively smooth in the body, with more power in the finish. A lot of sherrycask influence.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Full scent, ripe fruits, apples, citrus, forest fruits. Quite some alcohol noticeable. |
| Вкус | 87 | Pretty smooth initially, sparkling, red fruits, prunes, berries. Thick structure. |
| Финиш | 88 | More powerful now. Red fruits, prunes. Drying mouthfeel, long finish. |
нос 87 · вкус 83 · финиш 86
Tasted on 10.05.24 in Lommel.
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
нос 89 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
I tried this in a lineup of all 2020s Bunnahabhain OB CS bottlings, and see no reason to alter my original score. It has its place in the product lineup but is by no means the best 12yo CS. Tasted as a part of a Bunnahabhain Cask Strength tasting (thanks Maija & Pete!): Bunnahabhain 12yo bot. 2024 (83 pts.), Bunnahabhain 12yo CS 2021 (84), Bunnahabhain 12yo CS 2022 (87) Bunnahabhain 12yo CS 2023 (84), Bunnahabhain 12yo CS 2025 (88), Bunnahabhain 21yo CS 2024 (85), Bunnahabhain 21yo CS 2025 (87).
Gets better and better with a few drops of water and a little time in the glass.
нос 88 · вкус 90 · финиш 89
The hype is not worth it. It smells and taste very similar to the regular 12, just with abit higher strenght. In detail it is more spicy, rougher, less sherried, more astringent and bitter. It is ok for the original retail price. Impressions from a freshly opened bottle. May improve after some time?
Dark chocolate and candied walnuts. Sweet and delicious. But that's all there is to it.
нос 86 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос 86 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
n 85 p 90 f 85
нос 90 · вкус 92 · финиш 91
Got poured into the blue glass as a blind sample. I typed on an ADoS because I am very overloaded. I guessed 10-15 years and 50 percent. My rating is between 85 and 86. There will be people who find it delicious. I don't even want to disagree unreservedly, but I really don't find it exciting or interesting. I was surprised that it is the Bunna 12 CS and that it even has a good 55 percent. But the nutty fits.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | 85.5 Phew, very syrupy and barrel-heavy. A bit of flavor from the Oloroso. Comparatively mild behind all the barrel influence. Tap a maximum of 50 percent, a maximum of 15 years. It's all difficult to assess on this mighty wall. |
| Вкус | 85 | A bit alcoholic and a lot of oak from the barrel. Another dry Oloroso sweetness. Tap 10 to 12 years and 50 percent. With water it quickly becomes very thin. But now I can also think of it more as the standard 12 drinking strength. |
| Финиш | 84 | A touch too alcoholic. |
Obviously, the quality of wine and barrels is a lot worse, but any OB should be encouraged as long as the core product line has strong sherry.
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
Nose is much stronger than the normal strength, palate is more towards chocolate and sweet almonds. Need time to open..
нос 85 · вкус 87 · финиш 87
Rougher than the current standard 12yo, and as such more to my taste, but it does play second fiddle to the delicious 2022 release.
нос 88 · вкус 89 · финиш 87
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 86
Smell: Malty, grainy, rather slim, well-integrated alcohol, slight ginger spiciness, nutty, nice balance Taste: Dec. Bitter note, mocha, slight alcohol spiciness, sweet nutty base tone, spicy notes, honey, medium. reverberation Color: amber, medium Water edge clear Conclusion: Nice cask strength bunna that is tasty but also a bit slim...
нос 90 · вкус 84 · финиш 84
Die Faßstärke macht diesen Bunna herrlich kräftig in allen Bereichen des Aromengenusses
Really nice. Lots of sherry, but enjoyable. Much better than I remember it being, but I also enjoy this profile more now, sometimes. Creamy sherry, dried fruits, nuts, vanilla, molasses, a little oaky.
нос 91 · вкус 89 · финиш 90
нос 85 · вкус 84 · финиш 84
I promised myself more... like some others also when I read the notes here. Poorly integrated alcohol and too much sulphur. Otherwise delicious. Although high sherry cask content, I think that makes it worse rather than better. I hope the next batch is better. Currently I prefer the standard 12.
I like this Bunnahabhain very much, it is sweet without being overloaded and has full sherry aromas, which for me are more in the tart sherry direction. In my opinion, it tolerates some water, since the start was a bit too strong for me.
нос 85 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
нос 88 · вкус 89 · финиш 87
Nice stuff nothing to complain with a solid price value relationship
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос 89 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
нос 88 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
нос 87 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
This bottle of wine perfectly reflects the characteristics of the winery, with rich layering, heavy taste, and good alcohol control. It is worth the price.
нос 92 · вкус 92 · финиш 88
The sherry does most of the talking here, with the nose having some sulphur. I'm a bit disappointed, but it's still decent.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 82 | Sulphur is quickly apparent to me. Quite a dirty whisky and not in a good way (to me). Some dark fruits, also wood, nuts, hints of apples. Water improves it. |
| Вкус | 85 | Better. Dark fruits, leather, lots of nuts, some maritime tones. The dark sherry is very dominant, unfortunately. |
| Финиш | 85 | Dark fruits once again, blackberries being distinct. Slightly maritime. But this is almost all sherry... |
Why this CS? I find the old 12 with 46.3% much better. Doesn't really flash me.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Waxy nose of gummy bears with match heads, red fruitiness, artificially intense |
| Вкус | 85 | Slightly salty, with a peppery cherry, not very oily, but with an overly sweet touch |
| Финиш | 85 | Long, alcohol-intensive finish, slightly bitter wood tones |
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 87
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
нос 84 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
Haven't had the standard and 12 for a while, but from memory it's quite similar, but just powerful, everyone has to decide for themselves whether it's worth the extra charge. I really like it, but I don't have a bottle ;-)
Not a very nice whisky There are some miscellaneous taste and some bitter taste. The Shirley flavor is not sweet and pleasant enough lack sincerity
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Sea salt, caramel, cream, a little chocolate, a little black fruit, maltose, the overall smell is good |
| Вкус | 86 | Dried fruit, not particularly sweet, is followed by chocolate, black coffee, a little woodiness, a little fried nuts, and a little dark juice |
| Финиш | 84 | Very dry finish, medium to short, obvious chocolate, ginger, a little walnut, bitter, not good |