11 year old Bunnahabhain matured in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead.
Nose: Iced buns, cream cakes, pancake batter and honey sit with butterscotch and fudge whilst lemon balm and slight chalkiness provide a enlivening kick of citrus and minerality. Reduction adds sponge and almonds in the form of Battenberg cake whilst lemon yoghurt delivers a velvety dessert-like aspect.
Taste: Toffee apples and rocks. Green apples and cooking apples are drizzled in dulce de leche and served atop of biscuit crumb. Maple syrup and chocolate sauce are added for richness, whilst hewn limestone and chalk cliffs sit with cashew nuts and lemon curd. Dilution emphasises freshly baked apple pie and ground ginger spicing.
Finish: Medium with fading chocolate and the suggestion of gravel and shingle.
Whilst I general prefer my 10s to be full on Oily & Coastal in profile, this Spicy & Dry example offers a lot to like all the same. The down-low mineral character from the distillate combos nicely with the sweeter, more bakery-led aromas and flavours. Quite likable.
Score: 84/100