Bunnahabhaon 10 2012/2022 Cask 900779 (Signatory Cask Strength Collection)

Sydney Whisky Show May 20th 2023. Whisky #12 Nose: Almost-burnt caramel, raisin, dark malt, scorched nuts, cocoa powder, almost-burnt fruit toast. It’s a big nose with lots of pungent aromas but it lacks delicacy. Palate: (neat) Espresso and dark chocolate arrival with a wall of alcohol. Tingling spices and oak tannins, orange oil and skins, scorched almonds, prunes. Palate: (watered) Overcooked Christmas cake, chocolate, mocha coffee, baking spices, aniseed. Dilution makes the palate a little juicier. Finish: Medium. Clove, anise, espresso and rancio. A large whisky that is expressive and demanding. Unpeated Bunnahabhain loves to age unmolested in a good sherry cask, but I’m not sure this cask was one of the best, or that it was left for long enough. The alcohol content is enormous and I could not begin to come to grips with this until I had taken it down quite a long way. Once it did begin to reveal itself, the story was a little simple and predictable. It's an above average sherry beast for sure, but in my opinion not one of the best, and certainly not one of the more subtle examples. For all its bombast, it lacks complexity. PS – Apologies for the spelling error in the title for this listing. I wish we could correct things like that. “Above Average” : 82/100 (3.25 stars)