Bunnahabhain 6 2013 SMWS 10.198 "Peat fire in a storm"

Here and forthcoming are each of my reviews of the Bunnahabhains I have acquired from the same distillation conducted independently.

Bunnahabhain 6, 2013 Vintage, Scotch Malt Whisky Society 10.198, Islay Single Malt, 61% ABV

Minutia: Distilled on October 17, 2013 and matured in an ex-bourbon hogshead for 4 years and then a 2nd-fill ex-Moscatel hogshead for the duration yielding 301 bottles. This is part of the Peated flavor profile named “Peat fire in a storm”. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Deep gold, 0.8.

Nose: Spicy mustard, smoky kielbasa. Some maritime-ness.

Taste: Spicy and sweet over the smoke, plus some beach.

Finish: Nothing new, medium-long.

Quite nice, though it slightly failed to live up to what for me were high expectations set with the nose.

Score: 86

Musical Evocation: Wolfchant – “A Pagan Storm”

Bunnahabhain 6 2013 SMWS 10.196 "Smoky harbour fish supper"

Here and forthcoming are each of my reviews of the Bunnahabhains I have acquired from the same distillation conducted independently.

Bunnahabhain 6, 2013 Vintage, Scotch Malt Whisky Society 10.196, Islay Single Malt, 61.3% ABV

Minutia: Distilled on October 17, 2013 and matured in an ex-bourbon hogshead for 5 years and then a 2nd-fill French oak barrique for the duration yielding 302 bottles. This is part of the Peated flavor profile named “Smoky harbour fish supper”. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Amber, 0.7.

Nose: Fish, salt, barbecue sauce, grilled corn tortilla.

Taste: Much like the nose, smoky fish. Spices/heat, too, a bit.

Finish: Similar to the taste, add in some oak. Long.

This was ok but left me wanting a little bit. I wonder if I’d have liked it more as a fan of seafood. It’s not like it tasted fishy and put me off, I just wonder if I could have liked it more.

Score: 80

Musical Evocation: Cthulhus Scorn - “Chapter III The Harbor”

Bunnahabhain 6 2013 SMWS 10.195 " Shiver me timbers"

 

Here and forthcoming are each of my reviews of the Bunnahabhains I have acquired from the same distillation conducted independently.

Bunnahabhain 6, 2013 Vintage, Scotch Malt Whisky Society 10.195, Islay Single Malt, 59.8% ABV

Minutia: Distilled on October 17, 2013 and matured in an ex-bourbon hogshead for 4 years and then in a heavy toast medium char refill hogshead for the duration yielding 288 bottles exclusive to the French market for The Gathering. This is part of the Peated flavor profile named “Shiver me timbers”. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Amontillado Sherry, 0.9.

Nose: There’s a sweetness to the smoke, but it’s still big smoke. Some salt, too. Tobacco, leather.

Taste: Spicy, prickly, leather, meat.

Finish: Smoke that goes salty. Long.

It’s strong in your mouth, but still nice. Particularly the nose keeps the interest going.

Score: 86

Musical Evocation: Alestorm – “Wolves of the Sea”

Bunnahabhain 6 2013 SMWS 10.194 "Maritime marshmallows"

Here and forthcoming are each of my reviews of the Bunnahabhains I have acquired from the same distillation conducted independently.

Bunnahabhain 6, 2013 Vintage, Scotch Malt Whisky Society 10.194, Islay Single Malt, 58.5% ABV

Minutia: Distilled on October 17, 2013 and matured in a re-charred hogshead for 6 years yielding 211 bottles. This is part of the Heavily Peated flavor profile named “Maritime marshmallows”. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Russet, Muscat, 1.3.

Nose: Various apple. A touch of banana and tropical fruit. Marshmallow/sugars, which defines itself more over time.

Taste: Smoky before herbal, wood, fruits. Salt, too.

Finish: Smoke, earth. These come in after a fruity flash (berry family) on the swallow.

Quite nice if imperfect. The nose was the highlight again.

Score: 88

Musical Evocation: Buckethead - “Marshmallow”

Bunnahabhain 6 2013 SMWS 10.193 "Simply peat"/"Purest peat"

Initially I earmarked some Bunnahabhain sister casks for a side by side. Between making that decision and now, it started with 3 or 4, grew to 5, then to 6, I gave it a “Devil’s Drams” theme (6 casks, 6 years old, 6 maturation styles), but then it just kept going. I’ve acquired a bunch more and I feel it got a bit too unwieldy for a single side by side post (also kind of tough to side by side so many drams), so I’ve decided to just post them all independently as a series. So, here and forthcoming are each of my reviews of the Bunnahabhains I have acquired from the same distillation conducted independently.

Bunnahabhain 6, 2013 Vintage, Scotch Malt Whisky Society 10.193, Islay Single Malt, 60.1% ABV

Minutia: Distilled on October 17, 2013 and matured in a re-charred hogshead for 6 years yielding 256 bottles. This is part of the Heavily Peated flavor profile named “Purest peat”. It was renamed due to TTB nonsense for the 750ml bottle released for the United States which was renamed as “Simply peat”. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Deep gold, 0.8.

Nose: Smoke, seaweed, a fleeting sweetness.

Taste: Earthy, salty, mineral. Smoky/charred wood after. Potent.

Finish: Mineral, dry/woody, a bit of char/ash, some savory element. Long.

This is decent but not spectacular. The nose is the best part, I’ll be trying this with water in the future as I think that would help with the taste and finish being held back a tiny bit.

Score: 85

Musical Evocation: Mayhem – “Pure Fucking Armageddon”