Bunnahabhain 12 Cask Strength 2022 Edition:

[@10use]

Love the dedication to getting reviews out. You guys been really pumping content out lately. Keep up the hard work. Best whisky review channel on the Internet. No gimmicks, no bias, no mid podcast advertising... just straight juice analysis by too true connoisseurs. Cheers to keeping it Real!

[@topshelfwhisky]

I appreciate the kind words! We normally post twice a week. So many good whiskies to try. We talk about it almost every day. This channel has helped us connect with other hard-core whisky enthusiast. I really enjoy our little corner of YT. Thanks for being a part of it. 🤘🏻

[@PacificNet-work]

This thing is a HITTER. I literally couldn't believe it was $70 and a 12 year old when I was tasting it. 92 points for me. A unicorn in the modern whiskey landscape.

[@topshelfwhisky]

Easily the most impressive sub $100 bottle in the last decade of so. Batch #2 is a beautiful surprise.

[@D.C.897]

It really is

[@topshelfwhisky]

@@D.C.897 you come around on this one?

[@D.C.897]

@@topshelfwhisky for sub-$100, it fantastic value. This whisky needs air and water, diluted down to low 50’s, it is epic!

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Glad to hear this is so good. Bought batch 1right when it was released in the UK for way too much money especially compared to the price it was for the 750ml bottle when it got to the US. It was good but nothing to rave about. Cheers guy's

[@jeffreykasel3387]

I totally agree with you. So I added a few drops of this 2022 12yr CS Bunna to a dram of the new 18yr Bunna, and it did wonders! It added more viscosity and rich sherry notes to the so so 2022 18yr.

[@starclubyeah]

Picked up a bottle of this in Bristol, UK for £75. You're right, it's a stunner

[@topshelfwhisky]

Nice buy! Still can’t believe how affordable this one is

[@maltreviews]

Nice review guys. This was def a pleasant surprise this year!!

[@billmonteith1161]

This is a great bottle and glad to have it verified by you gents. Cheers

[@Dan-hn1lx]

Bunna is such a decadent spirit and their casks always impart rich nuttiness its one of my favorites and this cask strength sounds amazing.

[@topshelfwhisky]

All true 😉

[@newworldforever5493]

Great review, greetings from Germany, also fell in love with the 2022

[@topshelfwhisky]

What a great whisky, at such a solid bargain price.

[@welshtoro3256]

Like Dustin I passed on last year's 12 CS because my spider sense was telling me it wasn't significantly better than the regular 12. The 2022 has been picking up some good reviews though so I jumped in and got one. I think I'll get a couple more. I only picked up one Moine Oloroso a few years ago and I've been kicking myself ever since. I agree with Mike - the Bunnahabhain 12 is a top quality whisky and even this gem has the tell of the standard bottling; It's just turbo charged. Let's not get too carried away though. Bunnahabhain probably use some of the contents of the casks used in this in their other expressions. I expect they have some superior casks in their inventory. According to the interview Ben Luening had with the distillery the standard 12 is far more bourbon than sherry, so it might well be that the sherry factor is of quality. Luckily for us, over here, it's often on sale during Christmas for £36 a bottle. That means these cask strength 12's really have to punch above their weight to get us interested at twice the price but it sounds like a no brainer for you guys. I like Dustin's question mark though. It's a sherry bomb and not everyone is onboard with that. In a blind line-up you would have no idea what distillery this came from. By the way, I remember Benromach cask strengths turning to soup colour, Pernod style, when you put water in. Anyway, great review fellas. All the best. WT

[@topshelfwhisky]

Really none of the standard 12-year-old single male offerings are inexpensive by the time they get to Columbus. Everything is at least $60. Makes something like this an easy choice. It is a sherry bomb, no question and oak driven. That definitely will not appeal to some people but it’s right up my alley. I really need to get my hands on more Feis Ila Bunna’s. As Dustin mentioned, it’s such a hard distillery to buy. They all have a good age normally and impressive sounding maturation’s.

[@welshtoro3256]

@@topshelfwhisky Mike, I've been doing a side by side with the regular 12 which is a fine dram and I think I've reached an interesting conclusion. I agree that the Cask Strength has some older stuff in it and that the standard 12 is younger than it used to be and may only have 12 year stuff in it. Could well be wrong of course but I wonder.

[@topshelfwhisky]

@@welshtoro3256 I would like to know the age of this whisky. Maybe the casks are giving off an “older” feel but I bet it’s the age.

[@keithpetersen560]

I have the 2021 release and it's good, 85 score at $80.. I can't wait for the 2022 release and I hope it's still $80.. I've heard nothing but good about the 2022 release. Great review.

[@topshelfwhisky]

I hope you’ve had luck sourcing this bottle since your post. I revisited this yesterday and it still so impressive.

[@keithpetersen560]

@@topshelfwhisky Oh yes, I got it a few weeks ago for $75.. Definitely better than 2021 & a score of 88 for me..

[@thewhiskyfriend]

just bought 2 bottles ..you feckers ...great job fellas, think you need to revise that score Mike...you were wetting your pants with that one....lol

[@topshelfwhisky]

After this review, i ordered 4

[@lilgalbi]

So excited for this one. Will buy 2 as soon as I spot them!

[@pizzawarlord9232]

Found your channel today and new subscribed fan. Love the Bunnahabhain 12 yr and passed on batch 1 of cask strength but got 2 of this years bottling. Unfortunately retail for cask in my state is $99 but worth it.

[@topshelfwhisky]

Sorry, overlooked your comment until now. But I completely agree, it’s definitely worth that price and more.

[@TheReal_DeanD]

Man oh man I think the buyers at Total Wine saw this video and priced it at $85 before tax in my area. I paid the piper and am happy now I did it. Can’t wait to compare it to the 2021 expression.

[@topshelfwhisky]

🤣🤣 still worth it! That’s $150 whisky all day

[@Houman7]

Thanks for the review, I do need to get my hands on few of these fast. 2021 edition was just higher abv version of normal 12 and it certainly didn’t impress me, it’s still available here for 80$. This one looks to be in another league.

[@topshelfwhisky]

Only tried a sample of batch 1, it was good but not enough to purchase a bottle. But this one, I bought 4 right after this review.

[@mortenlund8387]

Great review guys! Honest words and great chemistry between the two of you is a great combo! Keep making awesome videos ;)

[@topshelfwhisky]

I appreciate it! When the whisky and company is this good, life is easy.

[@NotUrGuru]

This whisky is phenomenal. Probably the best value in all of whisky right now.

[@djbeacon6895]

Just getting over a BAD head cold and can't wait to crack this and their 18 year!! THANKS!

[@topshelfwhisky]

I hope you enjoy it as much as me.

[@topshelfdustin3060]

We need to grab a new bunna 18 as malt review has said they're getting better.

[@topshelfdustin3060]

@Maester Gryphon lets go!

[@utoobia]

@@maestergryphon2200I’d be first in line for it. But I’m thinking it still won’t beat the 12 CS. The youth of the malt and the “age” vibe from the sherry casks are sweet alchemy. Or something. I wonder though, how much older whisky is in this bottle.

[@ericnino8440]

Just found a last bottle of the bunna 12 CS B22 at my local TW for $84 Can wait to open it as soon as I get home. If it’s a sherry bomb I’m thinking it might beat Aberlour Abunadh or the Glendronach 18. Nice review.

[@topshelfwhisky]

Or even better? This one is truly special, enjoy.

[@Brian-gh8el]

Just got 2. $80 here in MA. I plan on trying it tonight alongside the 12 year. Great review.

[@topshelfwhisky]

Nice! That’s still an amazing value for what you’re about to experience. Dustin prefers it with a few drops of water but either way it’s special. Let me know what you think.

[@Brian-gh8el]

@@topshelfwhisky Amazing with water. Reminds me of the best early Aberlour A’bunadh’s I’ve tried.

[@topshelfwhisky]

@@Brian-gh8el it will continue to open up., time only helps this one. 🤘🏻

[@davieislay]

Guys, KZbin threw your review at me, but I’m delighted you enjoyed 2022 CS12 so much. I’ve subscribed, and I look forward to eventually seeing your review of the 2023 edition (when released)! Beyond that, if you get to Islay come & see us at the Distillery & we’ll talk Sherry Cask in Warehouse 9. 😁👍🥃👊💥

[@topshelfdustin3060]

Making it out there is certainly on our bucket list. Might be a few years, but we're going to eventually make it happen. And we can't wait for the 2023.

[@DeftonE88]

Great review. Only recently started following your channel and have been thoroughly enjoying watching through your reviews. Over here in England, I recently picked up a bottle of this 22 edition along with a Laph 10 CS batch 15, Ardnamurchan CS and a bottle of Uigeadail none of which I’ve tried before. Gonna try and hold off till Autumn to try them all. Not sure I’ll be successful 😂🥃

[@topshelfwhisky]

All good whiskies!

[@dough1311]

Great review guys! Cheers

[@topshelfdustin3060]

love your avatar!

[@MrPsiman]

it is a steal for it here . I hear the new HP CS batch #3 is very good and I can get that for $79.99. both seem like must buys

[@topshelfwhisky]

Did you get your hands on the HP?

[@MrPsiman]

@@topshelfwhisky Yeah I got it at Remedy for $79.99

[@iancrombie8862]

If I get a Gift Voucher for Xmas..I'm getting this...has been given 94 in one review and the 'Scotch Mist'with water is almost instant..incredible!😲🥃

[@topshelfwhisky]

This one is worth it, hope it goes your way! MC

[@agrainofmalt]

Hoping this comes to Sweden. I NEED some.

[@foodquig]

This looks like the kind of whisky that I need to try... I doubt that I will be able to get it here.

[@topshelfwhisky]

We had to order from over seas. Local selection has been a graveyard.

[@steveno7058]

Wow. Wow. Bought the batch 1 last year and wasn’t impressed.

[@topshelfwhisky]

Neither were we.

[@peatbull3426]

Almost all opinions are same in this way. '22 release is a Killer. Single Malt Reviews Lads rated '21 80/100 and '22 87/100. Its a step up. 😁🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

[@questionable9668]

Bought this from the distillery website and took advantage of the free shipping. Really looking forward to this one! On a side note, are you all still looking for kavalan solist PX bottles? Found a German website that ships to the US selling it for 390 shipping before vat refund.

[@topshelfwhisky]

I’m interested in the Kavalan. Send me an email? [e-mail]

[@questionable9668]

@@topshelfwhisky will do

[@krishnar3493]

@11:00 Yes, sir. That is an incredible change. I remember Whisky lock doing a review on 2021 bottling and rating it average, so didn’t bother. Will sure try this out. I had a bad experience with Signatory CS Bunnahabhain 10 before (that one sherry matured as well). Now chaps, help me out here if you can as I am not an experienced bourbon drinker. What do you think of Willet 8 year old CS bourbon (70 abv store pick)? I am having a few pours over the last two days and think its tremendous. None of the CS bourbons I tried so far come close to it. But then, I could be just overstating this as my reference points are very limited.

[@topshelfwhisky]

I was send a sample of last year’s Bunna 12 CS and I did enjoy it but didn’t think highly enough to purchase a bottle or review. This is considerably better. Signatory has their own style, especially when it comes to Sherry Matured, whisky. I wouldn’t put too much stock into that bottle in comparison… as for Willet, I’ll let Dustin answer. 😉 if it’s not King of Kentucky, move on. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@topshelfdustin3060]

A bit hard to comment on a highly allocated, hard to get, and in this case SINGLE cask pick. But I tend to think the purple tops are good, but they vary wildly and are both expensive and hard to get. So...you might have a gem or just something nice.

[@krishnar3493]

Agreed, Signatory has their own style and sometimes can come across a bit heavy handed. I compared Willet 8 (yes, purple top) with Stagg Jr(15) and ECBP c918 and it just blew those away, not even close. The bottle itself didn’t even seem to have opened up yet as they were only the first few pours, and everything felt too dense and compact. Thought of asking your opinion as I wasn’t sure of my judgement on bourbons. Thanks D&M.

[@topshelfdustin3060]

@@krishnar3493 I had a 7 purple recently and I have while not labeled but still their bourbon, a 12 year. It isn't MY style as they tend to be way more spicy than even I like. But you might just have yourself one heck of hitter! One things for sure with purple top, they are FULL of flavor. They'd be a fun thing to review but sadly, not really obtainable.

[@jasoncoates1835]

Sounds like this is a cask strength version of the old black and gold box 12yo...

[@topshelfwhisky]

Maybe better

[@MasterMote]

okay honestly im not all that impressed with it. does it take some time to open up or something? im not getting any "fudgy" notes. tastes to me like regular 12 but a bit stronger, which is already enough but i dont know if it was worth twice. i get regular bunna for $55 and this was $110

[@topshelfwhisky]

Give it some time.

[@ConnahJay]

Mine really opened up over time... Recently finished a bottle at a friends house and it stole the whole night. We were just drinking NAS Japanese whisky and then this just destroyed us with flavor. My friends wife really enjoyed it too.

[@DL-fw7xk]

97 points for me at the price point ($78 in my area)

[@topshelfwhisky]

bang-for-your-buck whisky of the year.

[@ameliaday3630]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@topshelfwhisky]

🙄