Another Bunnahabhain 1987! A lot of bottlers seem to have them these days. While the Perfect Dram was a Fino cask, this one is much darker and probably Oloroso matured.
It’s part of the new Fishes of Samoa releases, the new Archives label.
Bunnahabhain 26 yo 1987 (50,2%, Archives 2013, dark sherry cask #2557, 233 btl.)
Bunnahabhain 26 yo 1987 (50,2%, Archives 2013, dark sherry cask #2557, 233 btl.)Nose: juicy sherry. Figs and dates, but only half-dried I would say. Also jammy cherries and red grapes (hinting towards raisins, but not quite yet). Toffee. Caramelized banana. Subtle exotic spices and pencil shavings. Cinnamon and cardamom, also a little ginger. Soft iodine. Whiffs of dried mushrooms and tobacco.
Mouth: full-flavoured with sweet, sour, salty and spicy elements. Prunes and oranges. Cinnamon and nutmeg. Lots of chocolate / mocha notes, as well as some roasted chestnuts, even charcoal. Balanced oak. Fades on liquorice and herbal liqueurs.
Finish: very long, with chocolate, herbs and nuts alongside the emphatic coastal character.
Big, heavily sherried whisky that manages to fit in a long list of flavours and still keep a nice balance. Really good, with traces of the famous Karuizawa power. Around € 145, available from Whiskybase.
Score: 90/100