Nice review Everyone’s experience is different. I ended up buying several of the 2022 because I love it and the flavors far exceed the 2021 for me. I am a big Bunna fan
I just ordered the Bunnahabhain 12 Cask Strength 2022 off of The Whisky Exchange. I think I am looking forward to this one the most of the 4 I ordered. Bunnahabhain 12 Cask Strength 2022, Glen Scotia Victoriana, Dingle Single Malt and the Ladaig 18. Thanks for the review. Cheers!
@@justwhisky oh my gosh. I just had them all the other night. The Dingle had a slight sulfur note to it, but went away after a day or 2. It had nice vanilla and caramel notes along with soft sherry notes. I thought the Victoriana was well balanced with spice and sweetness. I thought I picked up on peat, but not much. The clear winner in my opinion was the Bunnahabhain. Big punch of sherry followed by a good punch of ABV. Naturally, I will need more time with all of them because I just opened the bottles, but I liked every one of them a lot. The Ladaig 18 to me was just a basic peated whisky. It was good, but nothing spectacular.
@@whiskeyisajourney hmmm….interesting…thanks for sharing. I expect good things from Dingle in time but sounds like not there yet. Ledaig 18 is quite nice but honestly you can’t go wrong with L10 especially for the price. I haven’t had the Victoriana. Keep hearing about batch variations and maybe missed the boat on earliest “best” batch. Cheers 🥃
Man oh man am I happy the 2021 Bunnahabhain 12 year CS got some love. The palates of all you reviewers is amazing. Some love 2022 so much it was their Scotch of the year. The point about neck pours and time is very true. Wish it wasn’t like that but sadly it is. 4 years ago Bunnahabhain 18 year was $110 then went up to $160. Now it is unattainable. Oh well.
Great review John. I have a Bunna 12 CS 2021 release which I have not opened to be honest. I was discouraged when I heard all the rave reviews of 2022 release and how great it is compared to 2021. I shouldn't feel so bad afterall. As for the regular 12, oh yeah that is a great pour on any day and it is always available.
Ordered the 2023 version last thursday, it's coming in today. The 2021 and 2022 I was unable to get here in Holland as I was too late ordering. I'm really curious if I will like it.
Nice comparison John, it's good to see these drams go head to head. I love the 18 but I had the same issue with it when I first tried it. I haven't tried the CS versions yet but like you said the standard 12 is a gorgeous dram! Cheers 🥃
Interesting to hear your thoughts John, as other people have said mostly rave reviews on this one, haven’t tried either yet but have a 2022 on the way. Looking forward to trying it.
Thanks for this comparison. Whisky Turntable also did both '21 and '22 side by side and he also prefers the '21....looks like you're not alone. If I ever find it in the wild, I'd be very tempted to try either one though! Like so many of us I'm a big Bunna 12 fan.... Cheers!
Just for you and science I just did a quick head to head with my morning coffee… at first the cask strength won but again kinda apples and oranges. I wasn’t wowed by MY batch of B18 but most others give it high praise. Most others prefer the 2022 cask strength over the 2021, but I prefer the 2021 CS so it’s all very subjective. As far as Bunna…. One can’t go wrong with the core 12, but maybe try the 18 to satisfy your curiosity…. It probably won’t suck. I think all their offerings are solid. Cheers 🥃
Isn’t it fascinating how a whisky develops and fluctuates? On reflection, perhaps it is the other way round and it is us who fluctuate and develop! It is good to see side by side blind comparisons, there is something which unlocks a genuine opinion by this process.
This sounds like a good honest review, I have the 21 and like it but never bought the 22 as i don't think the value is there at £75. To much hype around for the 22.
I'm scared to hear the part about the neck being the best part of the 2022 CS. I specifically let this whiskey bottle sit after having the first pour to let it open up some more. I guess I will have to try some tonight. The first two pours that I had from the bottle were fantastic.
The 2022 neck pour smelled and tasted like a 25 year old malt… I would score the neck pour over 90 but … subsequent pours were noticeably less impressive for me. Still quite good but didn’t hold up up in the blind tasting. Cheers 🥃
John , you are a rebel! If I could get a hold of KK8 and if Highland Park CS was age stated there's a whole lotta batch variations to explore from official bottlings. I have both of these Bunnahabhains unopened and I recently went back to the 46.3%. it's really quite good. Maybe more than I could handle in the beginning of my journey. Blinds are very revealing, I haven't done one myself in a while, but 3 beauties is the way to go. Any more gets a bit confusing
@@justwhisky no,,,, it's good to be true to your perspective. I appreciate what you're saying. I don't like hearing about acetone or sulfur. I have a 10 year Edradour Bordeaux cask that reeks of rotten eggs.
@@jackthepickledhound I recently passed on some Edradour 10 CS Wine finished/matured. Moving forward I’m focusing more on ex bourbon maturation…highlighting the spirit.
@@justwhisky I am tempted by a Oloroso Cask or the Caledonia. I am not committed to sherry bombs but I do like them. Sometimes they are as spicy and co.plex to make me think there's peat in there. The Signatory 10 year old unfiltered is superb. While at the same time, I totally agree with you that bourbon casks are the way to go. I feel like the sherry thing is a cop-out for real flavors.
Interesting! You are one of the first people I have heard say that the 21 is better than the 22. I tried the 21 and had heard great things so when I tried it I was underwhelmed. It wasn't bad, but I think I just put it on too high a pedestal. When I heard the 22 was better than the 21 I grabbed some but have yet to try.
Nice review
Everyone’s experience is different. I ended up buying several of the 2022 because I love it and the flavors far exceed the 2021 for me. I am a big Bunna fan
You are not alone…. I am an outlier.
Cheers 🥃
I just ordered the Bunnahabhain 12 Cask Strength 2022 off of The Whisky Exchange. I think I am looking forward to this one the most of the 4 I ordered. Bunnahabhain 12 Cask Strength 2022, Glen Scotia Victoriana, Dingle Single Malt and the Ladaig 18. Thanks for the review. Cheers!
Curious as to your thoughts on the V and D… in time 🙏
And the B12…
@@justwhisky oh my gosh. I just had them all the other night. The Dingle had a slight sulfur note to it, but went away after a day or 2. It had nice vanilla and caramel notes along with soft sherry notes. I thought the Victoriana was well balanced with spice and sweetness. I thought I picked up on peat, but not much. The clear winner in my opinion was the Bunnahabhain. Big punch of sherry followed by a good punch of ABV. Naturally, I will need more time with all of them because I just opened the bottles, but I liked every one of them a lot. The Ladaig 18 to me was just a basic peated whisky. It was good, but nothing spectacular.
@@whiskeyisajourney hmmm….interesting…thanks for sharing. I expect good things from Dingle in time but sounds like not there yet. Ledaig 18 is quite nice but honestly you can’t go wrong with L10 especially for the price.
I haven’t had the Victoriana. Keep hearing about batch variations and maybe missed the boat on earliest “best” batch.
Cheers 🥃
That John Prine is incredible too
Indeed he is….
Man oh man am I happy the 2021 Bunnahabhain 12 year CS got some love. The palates of all you reviewers is amazing. Some love 2022 so much it was their Scotch of the year. The point about neck pours and time is very true. Wish it wasn’t like that but sadly it is. 4 years ago Bunnahabhain 18 year was $110 then went up to $160. Now it is unattainable. Oh well.
Thanks Dean. Both good. Both offer differences.
Cheers 🥃
Great review John. I have a Bunna 12 CS 2021 release which I have not opened to be honest. I was discouraged when I heard all the rave reviews of 2022 release and how great it is compared to 2021. I shouldn't feel so bad afterall. As for the regular 12, oh yeah that is a great pour on any day and it is always available.
You won’t be disappointed.
Cheers 🥃
Ordered the 2023 version last thursday, it's coming in today.
The 2021 and 2022 I was unable to get here in Holland as I was too late ordering.
I'm really curious if I will like it.
I’ve heard 2023(3) is closer to 2021(1) which I preferred. Bottom line you can’t go wrong with any of them… especially at the price.
Cheers 🥃
Deliawhisky still has some bottles of the 2022, i just ordered one yesterday!
Nice comparison John, it's good to see these drams go head to head. I love the 18 but I had the same issue with it when I first tried it. I haven't tried the CS versions yet but like you said the standard 12 is a gorgeous dram! Cheers 🥃
Thanks for tuning in. You summed it up well.
Cheers 🥃
Interesting to hear your thoughts John, as other people have said mostly rave reviews on this one, haven’t tried either yet but have a 2022 on the way. Looking forward to trying it.
They are all good but the blind was surprising for me.
Cheers 🥃
Thanks for this comparison. Whisky Turntable also did both '21 and '22 side by side and he also prefers the '21....looks like you're not alone.
If I ever find it in the wild, I'd be very tempted to try either one though! Like so many of us I'm a big Bunna 12 fan....
Cheers!
Thanks Sascha for sharing that. Much appreciated!
Cheers 🥃
If you had to pick between the 2022 cask strength or the 18 yr old, which would you pick. If prices were even.
Just for you and science I just did a quick head to head with my morning coffee… at first the cask strength won but again kinda apples and oranges. I wasn’t wowed by MY batch of B18 but most others give it high praise. Most others prefer the 2022 cask strength over the 2021, but I prefer the 2021 CS so it’s all very subjective. As far as Bunna…. One can’t go wrong with the core 12, but maybe try the 18 to satisfy your curiosity…. It probably won’t suck.
I think all their offerings are solid.
Cheers 🥃
@@justwhisky for you right now what do you think is the best value bottle for under $150
Isn’t it fascinating how a whisky develops and fluctuates? On reflection, perhaps it is the other way round and it is us who fluctuate and develop! It is good to see side by side blind comparisons, there is something which unlocks a genuine opinion by this process.
Well said Michael! My thoughts exactly.
Thinking of doing a follow up to this
Cheers 🥃
Jean and I really need to pay more attention to the Bunnahabhain line. I think we only have 3 or so. Nicely done.
If you have the core B12 you’re in good shape.
I have only had the regular Bunna 12 and I love it!
You can’t go wrong with B12!
Classic quality with great value.
@@justwhisky trying to keep my purchases under $100!
This sounds like a good honest review, I have the 21 and like it but never bought the 22 as i don't think the value is there at £75.
To much hype around for the 22.
Blinds are brutally honest. I plan on doing a follow up soon.
Can’t go wrong with core B12
Cheers 🥃
I'm scared to hear the part about the neck being the best part of the 2022 CS.
I specifically let this whiskey bottle sit after having the first pour to let it open up some more. I guess I will have to try some tonight. The first two pours that I had from the bottle were fantastic.
The 2022 neck pour smelled and tasted like a 25 year old malt… I would score the neck pour over 90 but … subsequent pours were noticeably less impressive for me. Still quite good but didn’t hold up up in the blind tasting.
Cheers 🥃
John , you are a rebel!
If I could get a hold of KK8 and if Highland Park CS was age stated there's a whole lotta batch variations to explore from official bottlings.
I have both of these Bunnahabhains unopened and I recently went back to the 46.3%. it's really quite good. Maybe more than I could handle in the beginning of my journey.
Blinds are very revealing, I haven't done one myself in a while, but 3 beauties is the way to go. Any more gets a bit confusing
Thanks Jack,
Just trying to keep it real from my personal experience, however unconventional.
Cheers 🥃
@@justwhisky no,,,, it's good to be true to your perspective. I appreciate what you're saying. I don't like hearing about acetone or sulfur. I have a 10 year Edradour Bordeaux cask that reeks of rotten eggs.
@@jackthepickledhound I recently passed on some Edradour 10 CS Wine finished/matured. Moving forward I’m focusing more on ex bourbon maturation…highlighting the spirit.
@@justwhisky I am tempted by a Oloroso Cask or the Caledonia. I am not committed to sherry bombs but I do like them. Sometimes they are as spicy and co.plex to make me think there's peat in there. The Signatory 10 year old unfiltered is superb.
While at the same time, I totally agree with you that bourbon casks are the way to go. I feel like the sherry thing is a cop-out for real flavors.
@@jackthepickledhound I’m narrowing my focus mostly due to way too many bottles.
Interesting! You are one of the first people I have heard say that the 21 is better than the 22. I tried the 21 and had heard great things so when I tried it I was underwhelmed. It wasn't bad, but I think I just put it on too high a pedestal. When I heard the 22 was better than the 21 I grabbed some but have yet to try.
That was my blind take on that day. I plan to revisit.