Bunnahabhain 38, 1972-2011, Sestante Collection, Silver Seal, 2/131, 46% abv.

Sestante was a famous Italian Scotch importer that like most Italian importers at that time, focused on single cask, cask strength bottlings. Supposedly back then the market was mostly Macallan and Glen Grant, with diversification dependent on importers like Sestante. Supposedly Sestante became "Silver Seal", who bottled casks from the Sestante days as part of the Sestante Collection.

Nose: fruit, backend vanilla, aromas appear to dissipate quickly.

Palate: slightly full bodied, slightly dry, initial palate is sweet, a little sour, converts to dried fruit, mid palate is spicey, has dried wood, dry sherry flavors, a little viney, dried flowers, back palate is hot, peek of wet old steamed lotus leaves (which suggests to me there is a sherry element), a hint of smoke.

Finish: medium to long, dehydrated fruit, some white pepper and related spices.

Seems to be more spicey than flavorful, which I find it funny since the abv is at introductory levels. Tastes like an almost extreme baby sherry bomb, but is missing a variety of elements. Seems to be a toasted sherry bomb if anything. Effects seem to be stronger than flavors.

Grade: B+

Whiskyfun.com, Serge Valentin, sgp:551, 91 points

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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