Bunnahabhain 12-Year-Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Appearance: It's almost impossible to tell the color of the whisky in the exceptionally tinted glass bottle. In a glass, this Scotch is substantially darker than the average whisky, taking on a rich, reddish-amber hue in the light. Nose: Hits the nose with a tropical scent that I've found a lot of in Islay and nearby whiskies. This 12-year-old's nose is more forward with orange, citrusy notes but then quickly taking on an earthier, smokier oak scent with a touch of sea air. That more gradually transitions to a sweeter, earthy vanilla aroma with touches of sandalwood, pepper, and allspice. Palate: Eases onto the tongue with a creamy, malty, yet earthy vanilla flavor with just a touch of slightly bitter spices, almost like drinking rich, high-fat-milk latte with a shot of whisky in it and expertly seasoned with cloves. Meanwhile, it has a very gentle, but earthy undercurrent of peat that is easy to miss for its subtlety. That gentle, creamy flavor then swings in a much spicier direction and starts to tickle the tongue with notes of clove, allspice, pepper, and just a hint of cinnamon. Score - 4 stars (out of 5). (Aaron Knapp, thewhiskeywash.com, May 22, 2017)