Whisky : Bunnahabhain 18 Year (2003), Warehouse 9 Tasting Kit “Feis at home 2021”

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 45.5%

Cask : Recharred Hogshead

Age : 18 Year (Distilled 2003, Bottled 2021)

Nose : Floral, dry, and faintly maritime. Parma violets and crisp, dry champagne came to mind right away as clean fruity-floral notes appeared. Mellow maritime notes brought to mind seaside flower stalls with hints of vanilla bean, menthol, and licorice.

Palate : Light body with mellow, gentle notes of vanilla, florals, and spice.  A subtle creaminess accompanied notes of edible orchids and plumeria.  Very botanical with peppercorn, potpourri, lemon peel, and herbs gradually leading toward coffee ice cream and then vanilla beans at the end.

Finish : Lingering citrus, subtle salt, and vanilla.

Score : 6

Mental Image : Seaside Flower Bar

Notes : I cannot say I have eaten a ton of edible flowers, but this brought to mind those few times I have. It typically feels as though you are accidentally eating a garnish, though they can be pretty tasty with the right guide. I am not entirely sold on picking those notes out on a whisky, as they can sometimes create the impression of soap. This gentle Bunnahabhain had an excellent mix of flower, maritime, and sweet vanilla notes. I thought this was quite enjoyable to relax with, though I could not help but wish it was a tad punchier at the end. The dram reminded me that it is about time to revisit the core Bunnahabhain 18 Year, one of the first things I ever sat to review.

Whisky : Bunnahabhain 14 Year (2007), Warehouse 9 Tasting Kit “Feis at home 2021”

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 55.7%

Cask : Bourbon Barrel

Age : 14 Year (Distilled 2007, Bottled 2021)

Nose : Tropical fruits, botanicals, and ocean.  A vibrant botanical nose of fresh herbs and spice with notes of red ginger and hibiscus.  Maritime impressions largely sat behind tropical fruits as white pineapple and guava came to mind.  The wife thought the fruits more pear and cherry, but we both picked up lovely vanilla with more time.

Palate : Medium-bodied with tropical fruits, oak, and salt. Pears, pineapples, and guava appeared first before woody, slightly astringent, oak and birch wood came in. Tropical florals sat in the background, and the lasting impression was of licking a cutting board after chopping fruit—notes of pear custard on the back palate faded to a dry woody finish.

Finish : Lingering notes of pear and an astringent oak.

Score : 6

Mental Image : Licking the Fruit Cutting Board

Notes : I found this dram to be a fascinating contrast between delicious tropical fruits and astringent wood. The woody notes were not unpleasant initially, but they slowly built up so that the dram became a bit uncomfortably astringent after a while. The overall flavor profile was generally enjoyable, though the drying oak left the fruits feeling less than juicy. A few drops of water did not take off that astringent edge and washed out a bit too much of the lovely fruit flavors. I was surprised just how botanical this dram felt, especially compared to some of the other drams in this set. I never considered that an essential part of the Bunnahabhain profile, but it showed up in multiple drams across multiple tasting sessions. While this one was still fun to try, I thought it was the weakest of the set.

Whisky : Bunnahabhain 11 Year (2010), Warehouse 9 Tasting Kit “Feis at home 2021”

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 57%

Cask : Wine Hogshead

Age : 11 Year (Distilled 2010, Bottled 2021)

Nose : Fruit, florals, and caramel. Rich caramelized sugars with grilled pineapple, upside-down pineapple cake, and treacle. Floral notes came through as hibiscus tea, violets, which brought to mind herbal tea and cake when paired with notes of dark brown sugar. Mellow maritime notes like salty mineral-laden breezes across seaside dunes sat behind the sweeter desserts.

Palate : Medium-bodied and slightly astringent with notes of fruit, tea, and licorice. Initially, cranberry juice cocktail and sweet chili pepper shrimp came to mind before notes of hibiscus tea, tinned pineapple juice, lemon peel, and candied persimmons arrived. An under-ripened banana appeared toward the end with strawberry licorice and saltwater taffy.

Finish : Lingering licorice and subtle salt.

Score : 7

Mental Image : Candied Shrimp

Notes : I loved the rich, fruity profile on this Bunnahabhain. The nose promised all sorts of caramelized fruits and subtle grassy-herbal tea, which the palate delivered on nicely. I have never had a dram call to mind cranberry juice cocktail, but this one left me craving Cranberry Sierra Mist. I have no idea if they still make that, I do not buy much soda anymore, but it was my favorite seasonal flavor a decade or two ago. The fruit was immediately joined by a faintly maritime meat that reminded me of sweet chili shrimp, though the wife thought I was a bit odd on that. Overall, this was a lovely dram, and I thought it was well balanced between the malt and cask without either totally taking over and dominating the other. In my opinion, this was the best of the set.

Whisky : Bunnahabhain 8 Year (2013), Warehouse 9 Tasting Kit “Feis at home 2021”

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 60.2%

Cask : Oloroso Hogshead

Age : 8 Years (Distilled 2013, Bottled 2021)

Nose : Fruit, caramel, and chocolate.  Rich, sweet, and syrupy with dried fruits, caramel chocolates, malty biscuits, and dark cocoa powder.  Dried dates followed hints of grassy sweet dried hay and herbs with leather and vanilla appearing with more time.

Palate :  Full-bodied and thick with sweet dried fruit, tobacco, and wood. A classic oloroso sherry bomb with a mellow tannic astringency and notes of sweet dried fruits: raisins and dates on the mid-palate, which opened into Christmas cake. Hints of varnished wood, tobacco, and leather chairs left this dram feeling classy and comfortable. Hints of bitter orange and bergamot came through at the end and were more prominent with a few drops of water.

Finish :  Lingering dried fruit and mellow astringency.

Score : 7

Mental Image : Many leather-bound books

Notes : My wife thought this was the best of the set— it was bold, punchy, and gave a lot for one to work through. While it was sweet, it was also dry, so it never became cloying, and the notes of leather and tobacco kept the dried fruits from ever feeling overly saccharine. It was perhaps even a bit earthy at times, though never in such an obvious way that it snuck into my notes. I am not always overly enthusiastic about drams bludgeoned with sherry; however, I have noticed that when I enjoy them, they are often on the young side like this. Of all the whiskies that pair well with food, I find sherry-driven drams like this go nicely with creamy soft cheese. This was an excellent dram to end the Bunnahabhain Warehouse Tasting kit.  I hope they keep releasing some more of these (and that they appear with retailers I use).