Bunnahabhain 11 YO (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

Bunnahabhain 11 YO batch 5,  49.5 %

I have decided to continue my run of independent bottlings from That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Today I bring you the Bunnahabhain 11 YO, batch 5.

This is a limited run of 1091 bottles (50 cl) from the wonderful Islay distillery Bunnahabhain.

You can get a bottle of the Bunnahabhain 11 YO in the UK at around GBP 74. Maybe, just maybe, we get a few bottles of this whisky released in Norway soon as well.

Nose: Tempered fruitiness mixed with freshly baked bread, vanilla and the salty mist of Bunnahabhain Bay. Shall we go for a swim? With time I also pick up on red berries and creamy vanilla ice cream. Add to this a sprinkling of crushed peanuts.

Taste: Full bodied and delightful. A fully immersive experience from the first sip. This is whisky in widescreen format. It paints a wide canvas and there is a lot to take in. Luckily I am not in a hurry. Ginger and a dusty stick of cinnamon. Notes of pear and apple juice - but reduced and refined. Unsalted peanuts and toasted oak. Memories of  a salty sea breeze.

Finish: Medium to long finish. Oh wow, this is why I love Bunnahabhain. Just 11 years old and so rich and refined. It is almost Japanese in spirit (no pun intended). This is complex and yet very approachable at the same time. There are waves of fruitiness, mild oak influences, maritime notes and a lovely fusion of all of the above. Beneath it all I also pick up on a darker dimension; damp earth or well-turned soil covered with wet Autumn leaves.

Comment: This is pure joy.

Score 89/100

PS! Image from Master of Malt.

Sláinte!
- Thomas