Whisky : Bunnahabhain 10 Year, Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 68.5%

Cask : First Fill Sherry Butt

Age : 10 Years (Distilled 17 March 2009, Bottled 11 Feb. 2020)

Nose : Subtle and subdued: orange oil, patchouli, resin, and cardamon.  Those nose was full of earthy-floral undertones that would not be out of place in a cologne department.  Malty grape nut cereal paired with a load of stewed fruits and the subtle saltiness of a seaside candy shop.

Palate : Bursting with loads of flavor and a syrupy viscous mouthfeel the profile was nothing if not boisterous.  Loads of sweet spice and chewy leather came through right away along with honey and black cherry.  More subtle floral sugars moved to the fore with some water, almond oil, cinnamon poached pears, and the creaminess of an egg flip.

Finish : Long and lingering, sour cherries and sugar cookies.

Score : 5

Mental Image : Tumon Bay Cocktail Lounge

Something Better : Glengoyne Teapot Dram #07 (similar egg flip cream and spice, more fruits)

Something Worse : Jura 20 Year One and All (similar almond oil and herbal notes, more rubber funk)

Notes : This dram brought to mind a very specific memory— the first time I ever had an egg flip cocktail.  It was a revelatory moment tasting a strong cocktail put together with house-made strawberry syrup, spicy bitters, and raw egg whites.  The whole thing made for quite the show and I had simply never tried anything like it— and I quickly needed another.

To really get down to that sort of cocktail artistry this dram needed some water.  I can see why this dram is popular among a certain sect of the whisky community: the whisky has incredibly high ABV and is absolutely drenched in sherry. Overall it was bit hot for me, though with some water I did really enjoy some of the creamy/spice notes that came to mind.  I could have described that flavor as holiday eggnog, but while I am prognosticating on things I don’t like, I don’t like eggnog.

Overall, this was a really interesting dram and, while it was a bit too sherried and spirited for my taste, I can totally understand the appeal.