Probably the most nuanced and complex scotch I’ve had amongst the 10-12 year olds and in the top 3 of my favorites. White and milk chocolate, frosting, heather, roses, honey mustard, faint earthiness and minerals, cider, candied nuts, salted caramel, viscous malt, chili pepper, prunes, raisins. Has lots of notes I haven’t gotten in any other scotch. Months after buying it I was still picking out different flavors in it. High integrity product and a very solid deal at $50 USD in Chicago where I live. I hope they don’t change a damn thing that they’re doing despite market pressures to go low proof, color added, chill filtered, etc. I recommend anyone to grab a bottle ASAP
I went down the same path as you did... on repeat buys. The first few drams always feel like a light letdown, but once it's been open for a few weeks, I find myself going back to it alot
I don't have many different whiskies, but this is one of the ones I do have in stock. It's like an old friend; reliable when you need it and I'm normally a 'the more peat the better' kind of guy but Bunnahabhan has my heart. Need to try the Laddie :)
Just bought this today and I think it got me into scotch. I started with bourbon but Bunnahabhain really made me want to get into scotch more. The overall taste and finish on this is amazing. Great video.
Great video. Agree that that B12 is a great option for scotch beginners. My brother-in-law was only a bourbon guy and loved this dram. And it’s interesting and rich enough for me to enjoy right along with him.
I enjoy the 12 but I also have the Bunna Ceobanach (peated, no sherry). It is excellent. The peat is clean and supports the underlying malt and maritime character really well.
Bunna is a great whiskey, and I still can find for under 50, prices are going up))) no surprise here. I personally think this one you should have it on your bar, it's never disappoints.
It's a stunning whisky. Amazingly, the empty glass smells like sherry, after a couple of hours (and I have compared it with a real sherry I have in the pantry :) )
Interesting review. I have both whiskies, and prefer the Bunnahabhain. Also, I was amazed on how dark the color is on the Bunna. Natural color per the bottle.
Best bang for the buck is arran quarter the bothy, that's cask strength single malt and is only 54 euros. And if you know Arran then you know it's very good fruity single malt scotch.
Fabulous review Bill! This Bunna is outstanding! I love it even as a huge peat head!! I loved visiting the distillery during different trips to Scotland and Scotch distilleries. It’s a special place. The history of Bunna is very interesting! They sure are successful! They struggled at times but they are going strong now and for quite some time!! Bunna 12 is so complex and it’s a staple on Our bar - that I share with my Bourbon and Scotch loving husband! In moderation of course!! Cheers!!
Happy to snag a bottle today and try it with a friend. I thought it was funny how on the top of the canister there's a "captain" holding a wheel to a ship. Alas the wheel isn't connected to a boat. I suppose it's just a lad playing captain. Anyways, I'm with you on the stock it. I'm really happy with this one and really get the juicy character of it.
Bill, you forgot the Ardnahoe distillery! Their first whisky comes of age later this year. But yeah, Bunna 12 is a great whisky, especially after you've had it a couple of times.
Great to hear your thoughts on this classic dram. I absolutely love this. It continues to be priced right and it has many layers to consider and delights almost everyone I have poured it for. Thanks for the video and I hope you are well. Cheers!
The Bruichladdich is unpeated, but the water has some peat impact. So you will get some medicinal, iodiney, earthy notes simply from the water they use. I love Bunnahabhain 12, it's rich, dense, oily and approachable. An unmistakably good unapolagetic single malt, but still very approachable.
I recently had Bunna An Cladach, Eirigh No Greine and Cruach Mhona, the lightest peat of Islay I've ever had, fine to sip, but otherwise nothing to be too excited about. Apart from you're getting a 1L of decent whiskey for 50-60 bucks. Tho that might be because I'm spoiled by some other awesome whiskeys 😀
Love this scotch, I didn’t at first just like you. I got lots of raisins and sweetness but there’s a little pencil eraser note on the finish that made it just a little off. After a month of trying it I now love that about it. It’s like rich friendly scotch that some one put in a dash of Springbank 10.
Great video. Bunnahabhan is one of the easier Scot's Gaelic names to pronounce (not to mention delicious). I would to see you sit down with a Whiskey expert from Scotland and have him or her give all us Yankees the correct pronunciations.
I really like Bunnahabhain, but I don’t think I would like Bruichladdich since I probably wouldn’t like Port Charlotte if it wasn’t peaty! And I definitely get some peat or a “taste of Islay” in it.
I had my first bottle of this a while ago (6-12 months) and was a bit disappointed. I just bought another one as it was on offer and hope it will be from another batch and better or perhaps my palate will be more ready for it. I’m saving it for Xmas so let’s see…
Good pick Bill. I've bought this one many times and absolutely love it. Had a couple of their others such as the Stud - whatever. As for the peat, I can't imagine the air with all those distilleries. Also love Classic Laddie as well. Snag it whenever I see it. Snag Alert: Be on the look out - Ardbeg Committee release for Ardbeg day this year hit USA market in June - called "Scorch" Snagged one yesterday and oh my :O
... would the salt / salty taste of certain whiskies be due to exposure of unfilled casks or staves to purportedly salt laden seaside air? The hint of peat may be due to: i) addition of relatively (very) tiny portion of peated malt; ii) some malt being aged in cask previously used to age peated malt.
There's usually a very small amount of peat present in the malt, but it's also partly due to ex-whisky casks being used during the maturation. Some of which were used to mature the peated versions of Bunnahbhain. The minerality of the finish can also be conflated with peat by some.
Here in the U.K. there are even better unpeated/low level peated options on price par with Bunna 12. These include: Kilkerran 12 Springbank 10 Clynelish 14 Glenfarclas 15 Glencadam 10 Hazelburn 10
@@mendipfox1650 "Better" is subjective. Personally I think those are all rather good, but if I'm being honest, I prefer Bunnahabhain 12 to all of them; plus it's more widely available & less expensive than most of those (in the USA). IMO, Deanston 12 is equal in terms of value/quality, with Glengoyne 10 and Loch Lomand 12 being equally good values, but a step or three behind the Bunnahabhain & Deanston.
One of my favorites. But I think you have put The Corryvreckan at the wrong place...to what I know it's located at the north end of Isle of Jura (Google maps)
what I know is that there is 3 different 12 year old editions 2010, 2016, and the one you have now of Bunnahanhain If you add whater what do you feel then?
This is a very dry, grown up whisky, if you want sweet/sherry tastes, this is not for you, the oak bitterness comes through strongly, a little water opens it up, not too much! This takes time to get used to, beautiful whisky.
I like Bunnahabhan, but could never get over how expensive it is. If I could get this around $50 I would have always have it stocked, buy since it's goes for $20-$25 more than The Classic Laddie here the Laddie is my always stock.
Bruichladdich Islay barley and organic barley are unpeated to and better than the laddie you have to pay like 10-20 eu more here for that but it's worth it. Also try the tobermory 12 they bring out the ledaig 10 and 18 too which is both peated. But the tobermory name it self is unpeated and a good single malt.
I've never had the Classic Laddie even though it's readily available, but I went out of my way to buy this on Reserve Bar because my state's laws are garbage and I can't get it anywhere here. I instantly became a fan of it and would oddly say it would probably be worse if it were peated despite the fact that my favorite whiskey is Arbbeg's peat monster / sherry bomb behemoth the Uigeadail.
Blase? Bill, please go back and give your younger self a good slap! The 12 is just lovely. The 18 is liquid gold. It's a bit pricey, but a special occasion whisky.
Apparently you pronounce it "Toy-Chicka-Gah." My problem with the Bunn12 is it takes me forever to acclimate to the rubber note. I can't just come back to it as I please. I have to stick close to the bottle to avoid that off-punting rubber tire.
Bunnahabhain 12 is a great whiskey to have, overall on the deep sense.. I don't think it's for beginners. Monkey shoulder is a good way to start. For your next whiskey try deanston 12 . this is one step above Bunnahabhain in my opinion 🙃
Probably the most nuanced and complex scotch I’ve had amongst the 10-12 year olds and in the top 3 of my favorites. White and milk chocolate, frosting, heather, roses, honey mustard, faint earthiness and minerals, cider, candied nuts, salted caramel, viscous malt, chili pepper, prunes, raisins. Has lots of notes I haven’t gotten in any other scotch. Months after buying it I was still picking out different flavors in it. High integrity product and a very solid deal at $50 USD in Chicago where I live. I hope they don’t change a damn thing that they’re doing despite market pressures to go low proof, color added, chill filtered, etc. I recommend anyone to grab a bottle ASAP
I went down the same path as you did... on repeat buys. The first few drams always feel like a light letdown, but once it's been open for a few weeks, I find myself going back to it alot
I don't have many different whiskies, but this is one of the ones I do have in stock. It's like an old friend; reliable when you need it and I'm normally a 'the more peat the better' kind of guy but Bunnahabhan has my heart. Need to try the Laddie :)
Just bought this today and I think it got me into scotch. I started with bourbon but Bunnahabhain really made me want to get into scotch more. The overall taste and finish on this is amazing. Great video.
Totally agree. Such a great bottle. Mine is long gone
The Bunna is one of my favorites! Thanks for the review.
Great video. Agree that that B12 is a great option for scotch beginners. My brother-in-law was only a bourbon guy and loved this dram. And it’s interesting and rich enough for me to enjoy right along with him.
Great review Bill!!!
Love Bunnhablain 12. I always keep a bottle on hand. One of my first scotches I tried. Thanks for the content Bill!!! Cheers!!!
Bunna 12. Best single malt at $50. Use to have competition from Arran 14 (discontinued) and Springbank 10 (price raised to $70)
Arran 10 year old goes for $50-60 by me while Bunnahabbain 12 is still $50. Even if Arran still made a 14 it'd be way more than that.
I enjoy the 12 but I also have the Bunna Ceobanach (peated, no sherry). It is excellent. The peat is clean and supports the underlying malt and maritime character really well.
Bunna is a great whiskey, and I still can find for under 50, prices are going up))) no surprise here. I personally think this one you should have it on your bar, it's never disappoints.
Speaking of logo's, nice shot framing. St. Dic, patron saint of whisky
Hallelujah!
Great review, and great choice. One thing to remember is that Bunnahabhain is NOT completely unpeated. It does have peat, but it's only like 1-3 PPM
It has 3. But I can only taste a bit. Almost nothing.
Bunnahabhain is definitely a tour I’d love to do the next time I’m on Islay - looks lovely and I like their stuff ☺️🙌🏼
I'd love to go there myself
I have done the Bunna tour 3 x! It’s well worth it!
Great video, I've had the Bunnahabhain 12. It was awesome
Probably the best widely available 12 yo scotch! Amazing stuff!
More great timing and awesome review. Both of these are on my shopping list. Cheers!
It's a stunning whisky. Amazingly, the empty glass smells like sherry, after a couple of hours (and I have compared it with a real sherry I have in the pantry :) )
Yes!! Agreed completely!
Interesting review. I have both whiskies, and prefer the Bunnahabhain. Also, I was amazed on how dark the color is on the Bunna. Natural color per the bottle.
Best bang for your buck, can’t be beaten. Non-chill filtered, non-colored, 46.3% ABV, a real scotch.
Absolutely. I finally tried it today and I’m hooked on the taste. Do you have another recommendation for a scotch similar to this? Appreciate it.
@@brmicmatthews8398 Deanston 12 👍
@@gordyn5292 thank you.
Absolutely 👍
Best bang for the buck is arran quarter the bothy, that's cask strength single malt and is only 54 euros. And if you know Arran then you know it's very good fruity single malt scotch.
This is a stock bottle in my cabinet. It is a wonderful whisky at a good price. Great review, Bill.
Fabulous review Bill! This Bunna is outstanding! I love it even as a huge peat head!! I loved visiting the distillery during different trips to Scotland and Scotch distilleries. It’s a special place. The history of Bunna is very interesting! They sure are successful! They struggled at times but they are going strong now and for quite some time!! Bunna 12 is so complex and it’s a staple on
Our bar - that I share with my Bourbon and Scotch loving husband! In moderation of course!! Cheers!!
This is a whisky that I still recommend to nearly everyone. There's nothing about this whisky not to like.
Yes!! Right on!!
Love the 12... been trying to get my hands on some 18.
Just tried this. So good! Absolutely stocking this.
Happy to snag a bottle today and try it with a friend. I thought it was funny how on the top of the canister there's a "captain" holding a wheel to a ship. Alas the wheel isn't connected to a boat. I suppose it's just a lad playing captain. Anyways, I'm with you on the stock it. I'm really happy with this one and really get the juicy character of it.
Bill, you forgot the Ardnahoe distillery! Their first whisky comes of age later this year.
But yeah, Bunna 12 is a great whisky, especially after you've had it a couple of times.
I purposefully excluded them because they don't have any product yet. It was a decision I based off of islays tourism website
Great podcast, very informative! Bunnahabhain 12 is now at the top of my list of whisky to try next.
Great to hear your thoughts on this classic dram. I absolutely love this. It continues to be priced right and it has many layers to consider and delights almost everyone I have poured it for. Thanks for the video and I hope you are well. Cheers!
I'm doing well, hope you are too!
It's funny how long I ignored this whisky. I wish I hadn't
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary I am doing OK, and I am so blessed that my family and I are all double vaccinated and well. Take care!
This stuff is A M A Z I N G!!!
Ok, you convinced me to try a bottle of Classic Laddie.
Mmmmm, tasty 😋. Thank you Bill for the suggestion. Apart from your tasting notes I'd add hint of sea salt in aftertaste. Delicious 😊
The Bruichladdich is unpeated, but the water has some peat impact. So you will get some medicinal, iodiney, earthy notes simply from the water they use.
I love Bunnahabhain 12, it's rich, dense, oily and approachable. An unmistakably good unapolagetic single malt, but still very approachable.
I recently had Bunna An Cladach, Eirigh No Greine and Cruach Mhona, the lightest peat of Islay I've ever had, fine to sip, but otherwise nothing to be too excited about. Apart from you're getting a 1L of decent whiskey for 50-60 bucks.
Tho that might be because I'm spoiled by some other awesome whiskeys 😀
Love this scotch, I didn’t at first just like you. I got lots of raisins and sweetness but there’s a little pencil eraser note on the finish that made it just a little off. After a month of trying it I now love that about it. It’s like rich friendly scotch that some one put in a dash of Springbank 10.
This is one of my favorite unpeated Scotches.
Great review. Sounds delicious. Unfortunately it' a bit pricey here @ 105
*Great video, with a really great sound!*
Hah! Figured it out :)
My bottle is arriving tomorrow with a Tamdhu 12,which i've never had before.😃😃
Just bought some last week, looking forward to opening it
I stock both. Great whiskies.
Great video. Bunnahabhan is one of the easier Scot's Gaelic names to pronounce (not to mention delicious). I would to see you sit down with a Whiskey expert from Scotland and have him or her give all us Yankees the correct pronunciations.
I personally get Gansitos snack cakes in the tasting of this. Gansitos snack cakes are strawberry jelly stuffed cakes covered in mild dark chocolate.
I really like Bunnahabhain, but I don’t think I would like Bruichladdich since I probably wouldn’t like Port Charlotte if it wasn’t peaty! And I definitely get some peat or a “taste of Islay” in it.
Bill as always you always coming in with the best reviews. Most definitely going to try both
You absolutely should!
I had my first bottle of this a while ago (6-12 months) and was a bit disappointed. I just bought another one as it was on offer and hope it will be from another batch and better or perhaps my palate will be more ready for it. I’m saving it for Xmas so let’s see…
I really hope you love it!
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary Absolutely loving the Bunna 12 this time around. It’s so chewy and delicious. Got there in the end.
*Now are 9 distilleries in Islay, Ardnahoe is Islay’s newest distillery.*
Yup, purposefully didn't include them yet as they haven't had a public release
My favorite whisky. This one is number one to me.
Good pick Bill. I've bought this one many times and absolutely love it. Had a couple of their others such as the Stud - whatever. As for the peat, I can't imagine the air with all those distilleries. Also love Classic Laddie as well. Snag it whenever I see it.
Snag Alert: Be on the look out - Ardbeg Committee release for Ardbeg day this year hit USA market in June - called "Scorch" Snagged one yesterday and oh my :O
Id love to get one but these things take forever to get to Massachusetts
Very nice. Just bought this bottle probably going to crack it open
... would the salt / salty taste of certain whiskies be due to exposure of unfilled casks or staves to purportedly salt laden seaside air?
The hint of peat may be due to:
i) addition of relatively (very) tiny portion of peated malt;
ii) some malt being aged in cask previously used to age peated malt.
There's usually a very small amount of peat present in the malt, but it's also partly due to ex-whisky casks being used during the maturation. Some of which were used to mature the peated versions of Bunnahbhain. The minerality of the finish can also be conflated with peat by some.
To me it smells like maple syrup, almost cloyingly so, but not quite. A delicious dram.
That’s nice Bill 🥃
Dollar for dollar, probably the best value going in unpeated malts. It's World Class Scotch for under $50; how do you beat that? ✌️
Here in the U.K. there are even better unpeated/low level peated options on price par with Bunna 12. These include:
Kilkerran 12
Springbank 10
Clynelish 14
Glenfarclas 15
Glencadam 10
Hazelburn 10
@@mendipfox1650 "Better" is subjective. Personally I think those are all rather good, but if I'm being honest, I prefer Bunnahabhain 12 to all of them; plus it's more widely available & less expensive than most of those (in the USA). IMO, Deanston 12 is equal in terms of value/quality, with Glengoyne 10 and Loch Lomand 12 being equally good values, but a step or three behind the Bunnahabhain & Deanston.
@@mendipfox1650 I should note that I've not tried Glenfarclaa 15...yet.
One of my favorites. But I think you have put The Corryvreckan at the wrong place...to what I know it's located at the north end of Isle of Jura (Google maps)
You need to create UA-cam playlists breaking down whiskeys based on your recommendations. Like a “Stock it” list, a “buy it” list etc.
Yea... I really do. I've been given that recommendation so many times but it's a huge undertaking
I’m a fan of B 12
In addition to a top shelf review, I clicked on this vid just to hear you pronounce the name of this scotch 😁
How'd I do?
Hi billy, I found too much ethanol on it, what could be wrong ?
Hard to say, but giving it a month or two after opening should help
what I know is that there is 3 different 12 year old editions 2010, 2016, and the one you have now of Bunnahanhain
If you add whater what do you feel then?
This is a very dry, grown up whisky, if you want sweet/sherry tastes, this is not for you, the oak bitterness comes through strongly, a little water opens it up, not too much! This takes time to get used to, beautiful whisky.
I think Kilchoman has just released an unpeated one in their lineup
You might want to improve your Gaelic pronunciation by studying Klingon. I find it helps.
I watched your video last night actually because of all people I figured you or Edd would say it right
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary Qapla’ !
I like Bunnahabhan, but could never get over how expensive it is. If I could get this around $50 I would have always have it stocked, buy since it's goes for $20-$25 more than The Classic Laddie here the Laddie is my always stock.
Oof. Thats nuts.
I used to think Macallan made great cherry single malts but this blows them out of the water.
Bruichladdich Islay barley and organic barley are unpeated to and better than the laddie you have to pay like 10-20 eu more here for that but it's worth it.
Also try the tobermory 12 they bring out the ledaig 10 and 18 too which is both peated. But the tobermory name it self is unpeated and a good single malt.
I've never had the Classic Laddie even though it's readily available, but I went out of my way to buy this on Reserve Bar because my state's laws are garbage and I can't get it anywhere here. I instantly became a fan of it and would oddly say it would probably be worse if it were peated despite the fact that my favorite whiskey is Arbbeg's peat monster / sherry bomb behemoth the Uigeadail.
I agree. The peat would overpower thr fruitiness
8 distilleries in islah
Blase? Bill, please go back and give your younger self a good slap! The 12 is just lovely. The 18 is liquid gold. It's a bit pricey, but a special occasion whisky.
I think straight out of the bottle was the issue. Glad I got used to it
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary Would love to visit the distillery there one day. Like really, really love to visit and just stay a while ...
Me too
Apparently you pronounce it "Toy-Chicka-Gah." My problem with the Bunn12 is it takes me forever to acclimate to the rubber note. I can't just come back to it as I please. I have to stick close to the bottle to avoid that off-punting rubber tire.
Good whisky,but i prefer d old bottling,more oily,full of sherried goodness
Hehe. “EdinBurrow”. You’ll never get smokey flavour from a water source. It’s probably barrel char you’re picking up in the whisky.
Thats always been a tough one for me to say. When I'm not actively concentrating on the pronunciation it comes out as EdinBurrow
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary it’s common mispronunciation. Edin BrÁ
@@TheWhiskeyDictionaryIt's Edinbra or Edinburrah to locals.
Ardnahoe?
They haven’t put out any actual product yet so I didn’t include them
Bunnahabhain 12 is a great whiskey to have, overall on the deep sense.. I don't think it's for beginners. Monkey shoulder is a good way to start. For your next whiskey try deanston 12 . this is one step above Bunnahabhain in my opinion 🙃
Why would anyone dislike smoke or peated whiskey?
Not everyone has seen the light yet
ha venn
wherre boston accent
There's more than just the dirty Boston accent that makes you want to rip your ears off :)
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary Dirty? Nah it's endearing. I've got a buddy from the area and it's always fun to hear the accent slip out from time to time.