Brief Notes on Three "New" Singles

[djrussobik at AOL.COM]

It's been so long since I made a posting like this, but it seems the approach of the holiday season (or perhaps chance alone) has caused some new whiskies to appear in local shops of late.  Here are three I purchased and tasted during the last week:
 
(1)  Bunnahabhain OB 18yo (43%) [$80 US]: Bright, full gold color.  Tastes SO like a Bunny (hay, marshmallow and a yeasty/slightly-fermented "tang" at the end).  Thick, oily mouthfeel.  Reminds me quite a bit of the 18/19yo whisky they were reportedly filling the 12yo with back around 2002 (it was notably darker and richer in UK at that time than the chardonnay-colored 12yo we always get in the US!).  If you like the Bunny profile, you will LOVE this, if you don't care for the typical Bunny characteristics, you won't like it at all.  A connoisseur's dram, IMO, and a fine one at that.
 
(2) Glenlivet "Na`durra" OB 16yo (57.2%) bottled 06/06, Batch 0606A [$50 US]: Seems The Glenlivet has finally gotten on the cask-strength, un-chillfiltered bandwagon (so much of the name, idea, and packaging reminds me of Aberlour A`Bundadh, minus the sherry!).  From first-fill American-oak casks.  Sweet, spice, fruit (develops into a mouthwatering "melon" [cantaloupe/honeydew] fruitiness, with a little late oak to balance it off.  Smooth and delicous un-cut.  I found this a very enjoyable dram, that retains its Glenlivet and Speyside pedigree while offering more substance, intensity and interest than the weaker standard offerings.  When the old-stodgies finally got on "the bandwagon", they did a nice job!
 
(3) Highland Park OB 15yo (43%) [$60 US]:  Plenty of distillery character, but darker/earthier than the 12yo, and more sherry influence.  A little more concentrated flavorwise than the 12yo, though no higher in strength.  There's definitely more sherry here than the 12yo, though not the rich sherry "thickness" of the "old" 18yo (the bottling with the wide neck and fat stopper-cork of not-too-many years ago [5?] that used to sell for $50 US -- sob!).  Seems to me much like one would get if one vatted equal portions of the 12yo and old, sherry-rich 18yo.  A nice dram, more of a digestif than the 12yo (which I think of as any "anytime" all-arounder).  I suspect that large bump in price (almost double!) from the 12yo may be more due to the increased sherry-cask contribution to the vatting than from the extra 3 years of age!  I bit pricey, but a fine and enjoyable dram (I'd be overjoyed if the distillery started filling the 12yo bottles with this!)  ;)
 
 
 Slainte from Boston!
 
   Dave
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