Review #178-179: G&M Bunnahabhain 2007 8 and 9 year old SbS

This is a side by side of two G&M young ex-bourbon Bunnahabhain IBs of the same vintage.  Bunnahabhain tends to have nice juice so I expect nice pleasant scotchs out of these two.  The younger one is a bit darker than the older one, so I am going to guess these are either different batches, different parts of the warehouse or something else to differ these besides just one year of aging

Gordon & Macphail Bunnahabhain 8 year old Cask Strength 2007

Islay - 8 - NCF- NCA - $70 - 55.1%


Color - Old Gold

Nose - Honey, vanilla, lavender, grapefruit, apples 

Palate - Cereal, lemon, apple, vanilla

Finish - Medium -  hot - malt, biscuit, vanilla, lemon - water brought the heat to a manageable level but made it just malt with a hint of lemon 

Overall - 5 - This wasn't an impressive barrel.  It was hot, young and simple.  While potable, there are better things to drink than this.  Water brings the heat down but it wipes out most of the flavor just to cereal.  

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Gordon & Macphail Bunnahabhain 9 year old Cask Strength 2007

Islay - 9 - NCF- NCA - $80 - 56.9%


Color - Pale Gold

Nose - Honey, vanilla, green apple, geraniums

Palate - Honey, vanilla, green apple

Finish - Medium - Vanilla, malt, lemon, honey

Overall - 6 -  This is a decent dram.  Worth picking up on sale.  It isn't anything special, but it is a decent sipper.  What is lacks in complexity it makes up with balance.  The notes follow through the dram from start to finish.  It is weird how this is almost 2% higher and yet there is little heat on this one.  

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.93

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16