I remember to have tried the Bunnahabhain 25 year old (or Bunnahabhain XXV as it tends to be called) very early in my whisky career. It was pretty much the oldest dram I had tried at that point, and I liked it. Back then it was still bottled at 43%, but since 2011 it is 46,3%, unchill-filtered and natural colour (yay).
Bunnahabhain 25 yo
(46,3%, OB +/- 2013)
Bunnahabhain 25 yoNose: a slightly unfresh start, you know, the kind of dirtiness that is sometimes present in sherry bottlings. Airing helps, so don’t worry too much, but it never disappears completely. Opens up on brighter orange and tangerine, yellow raisins and fragrant lemon balm. Some floral notes. Mint and soft herbs. Leather. Cinnamon.
Mouth: sherried again, and quite woody actually, with a sharpish winey edge. Not many fruity notes, more like overinfused fruit tea. Behind that there are hints of raisins, malty spirit and walnuts. Cardamom, ginger and cloves. A little lightweight and harsh at the same time.
Finish: fairly dry, spicy (nutmeg) and slightly tannic.
I could be wrong, but I have a feeling some overage casks were blended away here, as well as some sherry overstock. Too bad, especially since 1980’s single casks can be great. Around € 270.
Score: 84/100