Whisky : Bunnahabhain 10 Year SMWS 10.127 “Burning scarecrows by the sea”

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 62%

Cask : Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

Age : 10 Years (Distilled Dec. 1, 2006)

Tasting : Neat in a Glencairn @ Friend’s Patio

Nose : Roasted steak fat and licorice rich fennel root, there is a bit of smoke, fat, and a hint of vegetable sweetness.  Wet polished marble, unscented bathroom soap, and freshly washed linens give the nose a cleanness.

Palate : Awash with woody astringency, dried vanilla, and the sweet smoke of burning caramelization.  There are bits of charred sweet red peppers which give a savory fruit sweetness.  Gradually it rounds out towards sweet slightly smokey egg custard and assorted other brûléed deserts.

Finish : Lingering sweet spices, citrus, banana, and smoke make for a baked fruity send off.

Score : 6

Mental Image : Stepping in to a fancy hotel bathroom; the smell of clean marble and fresh linens.  But what’s this?  Room service left you a plate of hot bite sized egg custard tartlets?

Something Better : Arran Smuggler Series Vol. 2 : The High Seas (similar linen/soap, more salt & floral)

Something Similar : Chivas Regal 18 Year (less body, less intensity, similar charred vegetable & pastry)

Something Worse : Bowmore “Darkest” 15 Year (similar brûlée/custard, more tar, less body)

Notes :  A peated Bunnahabhain?  Count me in.

Or maybe not.  I have mixed feelings about this dram.  The nose offered some wonderful savory smokey notes in the beginning before turning toward the scent of the linens in a freshly cleaned hotel bathroom.  The smoke almost seemed to evaporate to be replaced by the faintly sweet linen or paper notes.  I do not see the burning scarecrows or the sea shore; the only smoke on the palate is the faint impression of caramelized custards or maybe creme brûlée.  It is tasty, but it is not on fire.

There is a lot to love and I am sure fans of Bunnahabhain would enjoy this take on some of herbal sweet notes I typically get from their expressions.  I guess I still have not quite found the Bunna that punches my ticket aboard the hype train, though this was the best I have had so far.