ralfy review 957 - Bunnahabhain 12yo @46.3%vol (2022)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- If you like my content you can buy me a 'wee dram' at / ralfy , thanks !
My Books 'Search For A Whisky Bothy' and 'Stories From A Whisky Bar' are both on sale at Amazon and all good book shops.
www.oswa.co.uk - An online democratic award programme identifying the best spirits worth buying for each year.
For more whisky info & stuff, SUBSCRIBE to 'ralfydotcom'
Subscribe to my other UA-cam Channel 'Fitter Philosophy'
This video represents a personal opinion and perspective only.
To comply with Google Adsense policy this video is an independent non-profit review and is not knowingly selling or linking to a site that sells the product being reviewed.
'Ralfydotcom' is brought to you by The Irish Sea Trading Co: Ltd:
A British TV licence is NOT required to view my videos or almost every other video on UA-cam.
ALL items reviewed have been bought from a retailer at market prices within the U.K. unless specified by the presenter. No 'samples', 'free stuff', or gifts are accepted, so please do not try to send them, thank you.
This channel is an absolute joy!
It really is
Listening to Ralfy is like sipping a delightful dram. Pure pleasure, of course it's always very interesting, but apart from that, certain people have this gift - no matter what they are saying, they could read phone book and it still would be fascinating! Makes me open the bottle each time new review arrives. Thanks a lot Ralfy ❤️
At a ripe old age a few years back my father passed away, but before he did, he passed on his favorite bottle of Speyburn 10, which from what my research seems to indicate was from the early 1990s. It was first opened years ago and probably 1/4 consumed, but one of his last wishes was for his family to drink a toast to his memory. When the time came my sister and I, our spouses and daughters, all poured a wee dram into our Glencairns, said a lovely toast to his life and spirit. To our surprise, the flavor was some of the best non-peated scotch that we had ever enjoyed. Since then we have purchased several bottles more recent productions of Speyburn whiskey hoping to capture the same nose and flavor profile, regrettably without much success. We've come somewhat close in a Speyburn non-age stated version, but not quite the same as dad's original bottle, which still holds a small cache of golden nectar used to assist in matching against future candidates.
As I grow in my whiskey journey, I find myself gravitating towards names that to me seem more complex, and consistent, slightly oily. I've had newly opened bottles of some brands of fresh bourbon stored in the same cabinet as father's 1990s Speyburn 10 that at first seemed to be wonderful, but within a month seemed to go just as flat as an opened aged can of diet soda. I am by far NOT a afficionado, but there is a sentiment in the nose of a straight pour of good whiskey that I can now recognize. Whether it's bourbon, Tennesse, Irish or Scottish, quality stands out more and more as I continue my journey.
Thank you to Ralfy for reflecting and sharing your knowledge. I'm new to the channel but I look forward to exploring the past and to new episodes as they become available.
I remember Ian MacMillan being interviewed a couple of years ago on Aquivitae by Roy Duff about his time as master distiller for Bunna. He was instrumental in persuading management to stop chill filtration and move the abv away from 40%. The 0.3% of 46.3% was picked purely to be “different”. Apparently he stood in front of a chill filtration machine and pulled out a filter and got every one to rub their hands over it then smell their hands. He said, all those smells and oily texture you can feel is what we currently strip out of this whisky.
Since then, Bunna has been ncf, nat col and bottled at 46.3%. And is all the better for it.
When Fluffy was checking out things on top of your barrel, he paused for a moment to nose the Bunny. The reaction: "Nope. Still don't see what my Ralfy finds so fascinating about this stuff." Too bad you can't explain to Fluffy that whisky is sort of like catnip for humans - we enjoy a little nip on occasion too!
What fortuitous timing, I just purchased a bottle of this a few days ago! I had fallen off on the scotch drinking the past 2 years as I decided to go back to school and get my graduate degree. Primarily because I wanted to focus on my studies, but also because I enjoy bourbon as well and it is generally much cheaper than scotch in the U.S. (which is an important consideration for a grad student).
In the past couple of months i've purchased 2 bottles of scotch, a highland park 12 and a bunnahabhain 12, both of which I remember as some of my early favorites. The highland park was... fine. The bunnahabhain, however, is excellent. Just as good as I remember.
Congrats. You have to try HP CS 👍
@@peatbull3426 If I see it I may give it a try! Definitely not writing them off.
@@loganferguson517 its double priced but worth a try. This year edition is a killer. 😁🥂🙋🏻♂️
I don't think you could have described the Highland Park any better.
Nice of the kitty to come visit!...and a great review of a good bottle! Thanks again! We do see the bunna 12 several times per year in Canada. The CS and 18 YO is rare.
It's about the quality of what we consume which will encourage us to consume less and more slowly, more thoughtfully and with greater enjoyment - Ralfy Dec 2022. Well said you malt maestro!
Bunna 12 was my favourite scotch that I've tried in my previous whisky kick many years ago. Now that I'm on another Scotch kick I'm looking forward to picking one up again.
A malt cat! Instant thumbs-up!
I completely lost all sens of taste and flavors after Covid 3 weeks ago, none of my senses have returned and it worries me. I pray for it to come back, in the meantime I'll still watch all your vids. I may have lost my nose, but I still can get more dram knowledge !
I read recently that everyone is tending to get their senses back long term, don't worry :)
My dad completely lost his sense of smell and taste from covid. It did eventually come back (mostly) after a few months. He still cannot completely taste butter or salt, but everything else came back fine. Good luck 🤞
. . . give it time !
I had Covid a year ago, took a few months for taste and smell to more or less get back to normal. I find my senses are heightened after exercise such as a long hike. That first pint and whisky in the pub afterwards is fantastic
My best friend had a traumatic brain injury around 10 years ago and permanently lost his sense of taste and smell. A terrible pity considering cooking and food were his greatest passions. He's doing well though despite this and and now has a great interest in playing the drums, going to concerts and trekking. Don't despair if you're abilities change, you will adapt and still enjoy life to it's fullest with a positive attitude. Take care mate, all the best.
Been enjoying Bunnahabhain 12 for many years now. Relieved to hear that the recent consistency issue appears to be a thing of the past now. One reason this whisky stands out to me is a unique mineral character that I found in the flavor on the very first tasting. It's sort of like clean, fresh stream water that has flowed over old weathered granite, picking up just a bit of the mineral rock flavor. Some reviewers seem to describe this as a nutty flavor, and I can understand that interpretation too. In any case, this whisky certainly has its own unique, gentle character.
Exactly my experience trying it for the first time a number of years ago.
Great review. Been awhile since I've had Bunnahabhain, so I'll need to revisit it for sure.
I'm so excited because I'll be in Edinburgh next month for a few days (I'm from Tennessee). Just wish it could be longer. This will my first trip to Europe.
Thanks!! Well done and so happy to taste bunna 12 at the same time. You are good ralfy!
Thanks for this wonderful review and thanks for sharing your memories with us. Bunnahabhain is a fine whisky and the 12er is fantastic. Cheers from a pat-pal from Germany
Man I had a recent bunna. No water added just let it sit for 25+ minutes. At 30 or 40 minutes in.. it was spectacular
My girl surprised me with a bottle of this just this past Friday. I wanted it as per your recommendation from a previous video. This dram is everything you said it is! Very unique, heavy yet delicate with some taste notes. Creamy & syrupy with an array of spice! & that was a neck pour. I will probably keep this bottle n stock. Cheers Malt Mates!
Cheers Ralfy. Another outstanding review. This is my go to 12 yr old. Outstanding value - and it was pure luck I knew about it, as my mother in law randomly got it for me as a Xmas present about 6 years ago. I've never looked back.
What a coincidence Ralphy.., i've just buyed a new bottle last saturday🙂
Totally agree with your review about this beautiful spirit.
I realy love Bunnahabhain (for a while now) cheers and greetings from the Netherlands!
Great cameo from Fluffy! This is my go to dram on a week night. Fantastic value for money and extremely tasty.
Hello, I wasn't expecting Bunna 12 yo, a pleasant surprise🙂 I've been passing this bottle around for a long time, but finally it's standing in my bar, although still closed😉 Greetings from Poland.
One of my favorites. Always good.
Fluffy the Cat just back from hunting. Love it!!!
I just bought a bottle of this last week. Great stuff.
Another great video Ralphy. I come from the Isle of Lewis and worked in Glasgow for a few years, I have great memories of Bunna 12 and drinking in the park bar, Islay inn and the snaffle in Glasgow. This single malt for me always delivers, a true integrity bottle. Thank you again for a wonderful video and merry xmas.
I had avoided Bunnahbin for no good reason, for many years. Then my first full day in Edinburgh I broke out the mini I bought on Princess Street and was taken back to the first time I remember tasting scotch whisky. Whatever's going on right now at that distillery is creating good things. It was the first bottle I bought when I got home and want to grab another just to keep the memory alive. It's a lovely, full bodied, fruity, confectionery treat. It was great to see your review and see that what I experienced wasn't a fluke.
Thank you Ralfy for the refreshed review. Running low on my current bottle - will need to restock. Still among the best values in the whiskey world.
On your recommendation a bottle of Bunnahabhain 12 followed me home a few days ago and tonight I had time to take a malt moment while rewatching this review. Quite pleased, I was surprised by the deep richness. With a drop of water it is quite sweet and warming, an ideal glass for a chilly night at the end of Winter.
This is an exceptional Bunnahabhain. Sherried and then with all the variety we have come to expect of on point Bunnahabains. The cask strength is epic, but so is this one! Best 12 year old version in years.
This has been my favourite affordable single malt for years and years. Never disappoints. Just as you're saying: Old acquaintances!
One of the best core Whiskies out there. So much flavor. Probably my favorite distillery now. The CS is great but not worlds better and that still makes this a great value, ESPECIALLY, considering that Bunnahbahain 18, 25 and the special releases are no longer priced well, as delicious as they are. And YES on your notes on the negative impact of chill filtration. My bottle of Glenlivet 25 was so disappointing on the finish because of chill filtration.
The cat!!! Cameo used as likebait? It worked. :)
Hi Ralfy, greetings from the Netherlands. Again a great review. Indeed a wunderfull whisky, I have always one in my cabinet. I also bought the Bunnahabhain Cask Strength 2022 edition which I will share with a view whisky friends next week.
Hello, where did you get the Bunnahabhain 12 CS? I am looking out for it, but cannot find it in the Netherlands.
Greetings Marcel
Thanks Ralfy. My local Nisa stocks this. I bought one recently and i found it very acceptable, especially with a little water, it just helped to round off the edge.
Sounded like an introductory review for newbies Ralfy....I was introduced to this by your good self in 2010 and thoroughly enjoyed...
More delight that you’re enjoying our stuff so much again, Ralfy. “It’s the bottle that no home should be without!” Is the message I give our Visitors! 😁😁👍🥃
I just got my electric bill and almost died from the amount I owe on it. I turned on your video to help me calm down and seeing the fluffy malt mate made it for me. Also the fact that’s the smaller of your two cats is funny because my cat is about half that size, granted he’s always been tiny.
Great review thanks, im irish and I drink irish whiskey, but the one scotch whisky I drink is bunnahabhain, I really enjoy it .
Omg! You have cats!! ❤❤❤
I used to love you. But now you are a kind of a whisky reviewing cat whispering wizard! Full respect from a humble servant of our own two cats... they turn their nose up to my bottle of Springbank 10 and Longrow peated, but I do still love them
Please review Compass Box Orchard House... I hear its a good one and I have a bottle on the way in the post ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
I bought this one from seeing Ralfy's previous reviews on it. Ralfy is great at what he does. Quality over quantity all day!
Definitely one of my favorite affordable sherry whiskies. Probably along with Edradour 10 and Glenallachie 12.
So nice to catch you doing the best of basics my man : ) Stay warm & cheerful in this week of Ice & snow.
This channel convinced me to buy a bottle of Bunnahabhain 12. Great advice. Subscribed. 😀
Another great review of a fantastic whisky. Currently £32.40 on Amazon S & S, which is ridiculously good bang for your your buck.
Around the same price in Waitrose
65 € in Lisbon.
Spot on Ralfy. The olfactory cortex (which is in large part responsible for the sensation of smell) has connections to the limbic system. This is why smell is such a powerful stimulus for memory.
I actually prefer this 12 yo vs the 18 yo. Solid staple in my collection
yes this one i have always standart in my colection hahah its just so good en normal priced ofcourse
Great review and story. This dram holds a special place in my heart. Many many years ago in my youth after first tasting the usual suspects of Scottish and Irish blended whiskys and deciding whisky was not for me, a friend of mine bought me a splash of this at a local beer and whisky bar we used to frequent. I remember being blown away (and surprised) by how tasty it was, and at that moment I started my whisky/single malt journey. Since then I've always kept a bottle of this in my whisky stash.
Love ya Ralphy! And love Bunnahabian! Cheers from Toronto!
Superb recommendation! Got a Bottle and it was Love at first sip! So as the Arran 10 which is so hard to find in my area. Thanks!
Wonderful Review! I like this whisky very much!
I love that the Mr Fluffy went in for a nosing. Great review sir.
I have the 18-year in my collection, and I have been enjoying it. I recently picked up a 50ml mini-bottle of the 12-year so that I could try it. With this review fresh in my mind, maybe I'll get into it later today.
Funny watching youtube trying to subtitle Bunnahabhain, pure dead brilliant review as usual. warmed the cockles of a Gorbals boy in Beverly Hills
I just bought a bottle of this for an old friend that is recuperating from surgery. He is a scotch drinker, so I wanted to give him something he would enjoy. Thanks Ralphy!
This takes me back to the start of my malt whisky journey back in the late seventies/early eighties. There was a lot of men who came down from the Islands to join either the Glasgow police or prison service they needed men at least six feet tall in those days and do you remember how small the average height of the the men in Glasgow was then? Byres Road pubs back then where really full of students it was a very popular place for them to drink. But I'm reminiscing, Bunnahabhain was one of my favourite whisky from these long ago days and it nice to be reminded of it in your review.
Hello Ralfy, greetings from Norway.
Great review. Now i am going to have to try both the 12yo and the cask strength one.
This is an excellent, excellent whisky.
I'm usually a peat lover, but when something of this quality is in the glass - I don't care, even if the flavor profile is different from what I usually go for.
Looks like Fluffy is the new Malt Mascot!
Ralfy, I love you even more seeing that you love and serve your cats so well. Fluffy looks a lot like my Persephone.
I got a bottle of this for my 65th birthday, we have to be a little indulgent occasionally, very nice indeed.
Thanks a lot for such a higher note for a bottle which a have bought aswell for a couple years but still havent tasted it!))
Had a bottle of Bunna 25 8 yrs ago the most missed bottle I’ve ever had 😂
Great timing, Ralfy! Acting on your positive review for Bunnahabhain 12 YO Cask Strength, I took advantage of an offer from Master of Malt a week or so ago, and got 1 bottle of Cask Strength and 1 of the standard 12 YO for £99.90 the pair. Looking forward to trying them both over Christmas and revisiting your reviews. By the way, after years of trying with no luck and almost giving up, I also won a prize from their 'Whisky Santa' promotion - a bottle of Bladnoch 19 YO 2022 Release. So, when that arrives, I'm in for some decent festive spirit all round! I'll raise a glass to you on the 25th and here's wishing you good health and good whisky for the New Year.🥃
Thank you Ralfy! I raise my glass and wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!
I've got a bottle of this in my stash, it's been around for about a year or so, also got it from your last recomendation. It's waiting it's time patiently!
Just go and buy another one because not even see when this beauty is finished. Its addicting just cant stop drinking 😁🥂🙋🏻♂️
@PeatBüll There's a Glenallachie 12, Deanston 12, Arran 12, Glencadam 10 and many more from the Ralfy recommendations. :D I had to stock up good before this price-rising horror.
@@NicolasMD85 good point. All are fantastic drams. Just enjoy 😁🥂🙋🏻♂️
Gorgeous cat, gorgeous whisky.
Hopefully, I'm getting the cask strength for Christmas. Yum
A Malt Mog!
So fortuitous! I just bought a bottle of the 12 and watched your old review while sipping over the weekend. Should have waited a couple days to open. Cheers!
I bought my first bottle of this about a year ago, and it was definitely different from a shooter I had a few years ago. All I know is it's one of the best non-peated wiskys I've had at any price. I hope I didn't accidentally get an off profile bottle, because I should have bought a bunch of bottles if so.
This is my latest addition to my small scotch collection, based on your previous review and the review of one of my go-to bourbon UA-cam reviewers (who rarely reviews scotches the same way you rarely review bourbons). I like the unique peppery finish of the Bunnahabhain 12, which I don't find in my other favorites (Glendronach, Glenfarclas and Arran). It also doesn't hurt that the price is very reasonable on this one, compared to other 12-years.
Recently had a dram from a bottle purchased this year and it was as excellent as the one's I remembered from years ago. A bottle purchased in I think 2019 or 2020 had not been as good an experience. Not as complex and dominated by a kind of chili pepper-like heat.
I am very much glad I gave it another chance but this is interesting in light of your comment on batch variation..
This dram always reminds me of a Cadbury Creme Egg. Excellent review, as always, Ralfy!
Love the cat. Beautiful!
Bought a bottle of this more than 6 months ago or so and have it in my cabinet may open it soon.
My go to whisky I have 5 bottles stashed and never go below 3...great price taste and consistency thank god they have not played the Highland Park game.
I'm just a silent watcher of any Ralfy video, who enjoys a dram while eating this guy talk about his passion. But this time, I had to leave a comment.
This is the very best video he ever made
There's a little fluffy guest!
Hi Ralfy, I bought a bottle of this in the mid - late 1980s from the whisky shop in Aberdeen. I still remember it, for it was recommended by the shopkeeper as a lesser known one in the North East but very good. Nick from York
I just started reading your book Search For A whisky Bothy. Being a beer lover I jotted down, Younger's No. 3, as something to try if I ever make it to Scotland. And Sadly at ~7:57 into the video I learn Younger's is not longer available. Well I am glad Bunnahabhain 12 is since that's one of my go tos.
It has become my go to malt and readily available in South Africa. Sadly we can no longer get Arran here, what a fantastic Malt 😢. Ralfy is a legend, I honestly don’t buy Whiskey without checking Ralfy’s review on it. Recently bought the none age statement Deanston Virgin Oak another fantastic lovely priced malt
Tasting this for the first time right now, while I watch this. My palate is not as sensitive as yours (it never quite bounced back after I had covid), but I find it quite nice. I was not aware that it was unpeated, so I thought, hey, where's the smoke? But Islay minus smoke leaves you with that wonderfully complex malt and that Islay brininess. Lovely. Found it for about $65USD in northeast USA. (low-ish for Islays)
The little beast is just too cute.
Got my first bottle yesterday, it won’t be my last!
Thank you so much for your videos Ralfy! I always look forward to them! I got a bottle of Bunna cask strength on the way being delievered and a bottle of the 12 waiting to compare it with! Can't wait to make the journey!
Best whisky I tasted so far. Brilliant nose!
Been my favorite bottle since I first purchased it early 2022.
No need to purchase this because it's already in stock. After your recent Port Charlotte review made a second trip to the store for a back up bottle and out of stock. Looking forward to your next one, thanks Ralfy!
Thank you for all your humorous and informative whisky reviews delivered with panache Ralphy! Do you ever run out of new malt mate mention combinations?! Slàinte mhath 🥃
Great dram, currently available in E H Booth & Co at just under £36 a bottle if you’re in the UK.
Just found another bottle at a fair price 55 euros. I appreciate your thoughts dear Ralfy and really enjoy it. Kindest regards as always.
Ciao 👋 S.
Due to health issues I do mix my whisky 50/50 with fever tree club soda... integrity malts taste WAY better even mixed... trust me. I do mix but I also care about quality.
I went to the local yesterday to get this but they'd recently run out, so I got the Stiuireadair instead.
Beautiful cat. I had a dog that loved Scotch (found by accident), but I had to pay attention to her while sipping my whiskey..lol
Hey Ralphy, I havent checked your video's lately, but im glad you're still going strong! Appreciated as always!. PS. for me bunna always smells like the ocean and its almost like I can smell the salt.
I had to look up Partick.....kind of halfway between Victoria Park and University of Glasgow, just north of where the River Clyde meets the River Kelvin....
I am curious about the noted batch issues. A bottle bought in early 2022 isn't offensive but is barely middle of the road and has left me wanting, considering on all the accolades this one has received
One might wonder: why does chill filtering take place? Because it seems, the way you present it, there are no upsides to it...
For the mass market and consistency. Makes it look cleaner etc
Bunnahabhain is one of my favorites, though I don’t find the 12 year old that much better than the Sturador ($40 in the US) to justify the higher price for my unrefined sense of taste. Love the flavors of both. I like peat too, so Port Charlotte is my go to for my peat fix.
That was really interesting Ralphy. A mate of mine and I tried an Ardbeg 10 from a few years back with this years bottling and the newer one was very disappointing. I hope it’s just a bad batch and not a sign they are dropping off like so many other distilleries.
Ardbeg 10 and Laphroaig 10 have both declined significantly in recent years.