ralfy review 1061 - Bunnahabhain 12yo @60.1%vol: (2023 Edition)

[@richardgenerazio5280]

Thank you as always! BTW , it is Fantastic!!

[@Whiskyanalyse]

Hey it seems to be cold in the Bothy, good to test a whisky for chill-filtration 😉

[@deandurandt3438]

I was thinking the same thing - also was wondering what the average temp is in the Bothy?

[@hubertweisz9218]

Holding a glass with the same content as in the review and listening to you is wonderful. There is a lot to learn from... Thank you.

[@neilynmafan3975]

Best ever Distillery visit was to Bunnah. In the Num 9 warehouse. What a great Sunday morning that was. Got over 20 Bunnahs and the 12 and 12 cask strength are my favourites, even more than the 30 and 25. Amazing review Ralfy. Thank you.

[@Soldano999]

Since i began my journey i bought four different Bunnahabhains. Never been disappointed. I Can't say that of many whisky makers.... Which is why this distillery is at the top of my list.

[@matthewn1805]

I concur sir.

[@maticzupancic943]

me on the other hand have been with likely a not-as-good batch of the normal bunna 12. fell quite flat and not interesting.

[@Soldano999]

@ Sucks when that happens. Last Year i bought a Springbank 10 and based on the general consensus i had sky high expectations. All i got was a somewhat generic whisky that could have been sold under any brand name.

[@xiamengbaby]

​@Soldano999 back when they were readily available, I skipped the 10 year and went for the 12 cask strength which I thought was very good. Back then (around 10ish years ago), the 10 year was getting meh reviews. I never chased after it.

[@manhattan7055]

@@Soldano999 I went on a wee Springbank binge between mid 2016-2019 when I started watching Ralfy Stuff. Liked the 10 and the cask st.12 but did not like the 18 or 15 at all. Of course the 10 and CS 12 were only $55 & $80 back then, not $120/180, or more depending. Dont think I would like 10 these days either with the price and fuss of having to scour every online store with every ounce of my spare time just to finally find it and see (limit 1 bottle per customer) kinda ruins it after all that if it isnt backed up by a mind blowing experience.

[@robtudor3785]

2022 was amazing.

[@rami26s1]

Careful Ralfy.. Billy may become the new star of this show.

[@peterfinucane8122]

"CATS"

[@Bob-ts2tu]

Everytime i watch a ralfy review i want a whisky, and i watch a fair few reviews 😄

[@JamesShedden-oi8jc]

Keep up g00d job Jimmy from Melbourne Australia

[@somewaresim]

I have a bottle of this. Amazing stuff. I'm actually watching this review while sipping your rather amazing Ralfy Caol Ila! Looked pretty nippy in the Bothy.

[@chanelcurry313]

Thank you for another superb lesson on Whisky. Ralfy….I concur, it’s a tasty 🥃 Very complex….I enjoyed it w/a cigar of equal richness and complexity.

[@rupertansell4662]

This is really a very good whisky, lots to love with this one

[@WhiskeySavages]

One of my new favorites for sure❤

[@gtrlover3983]

Bunna always great !!

[@johnoberto2659]

I actually have this bottle and its outstanding!! One of the best ive ever had. Every spirit should be bottled at cask strength.

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

Lovely whisky 🥃. Period. Thank you dear Ralfy. Kindest regards, S.

[@danf321]

Bunnahabhain had ALWAYS been a favorite of mine. No surprise to me that you chose this Scotch. Excellent!! And I’m freezing just watching you Ralfy with your breath condensing. Brrrr…

[@nicktheflybradley]

Wow Ralfy, 1986 was my first bottle of this from the Whisky shop on Rose Street, Aberdeen. Very memorable in the days I was bringing home a different bottle after every 6 - 8 week work trip to Scotland. Nick from York

[@gabrielluongo6363]

I bought the 2021, then 2022, but for 2023 got two bottles and I’m glad I did! Enjoying your re-review Ralfy!

[@joeynickles7962]

Which I could find the cask strength version but the regular 12 is still a damn fine dram.

[@dennisvandepol5938]

I love watching your videos so much! Lovely conversations with Billy. 😂 Much appreciated! What do you recommend besides the 12? I never had the cs but the standard 12 is phenomenal. I've recently bought Toiteach a dah and while it's not bad it's also nothing special.

[@wallace-bv4rl]

I have an unopened XMas gift of this. Already felt very happy about the bottle - now even more so. Thank you Ralfy

[@richardamiro8266]

❤Keep preaching❤️

[@robfut9954]

I love Bunna, but I’ve had some up and down bottle variation with them. It’s scared me off buying them for a while.

[@paulnsm64]

Always have a few bottles of this delicious stuff 😍

[@shelbybburrows871]

It is great. I just started working my way through it.

[@Mr.Wrong1]

My dear old granny always gave us ginger cake with butter on it when we were kids. Not thought of that in decades. Wonder if its a Glasgow thing?

[@chrisbattye3849]

My son got this for me at Xmas and we both loved it. We also noticed that the tasting notes matched exactly our experience! We absolutely loved it 🥃

[@ketsan]

I got through two bottles last year and have just bought another.

[@1stMemberEver]

I already bought two more bottles of this superbly good malt. I think Bunna is in the heights now, probably won't get any better. So I stocked up even 12 yo 46 % version.

[@MyScottyboy1]

Weirdly enough I had a burny-bin in my garden today as I was making a new chicken coop in the freezing cold and I used my whisky and wine boxes as kindling. Kept me really toasty!

[@manhattan7055]

Im awaiting a 9yr cask strength Buna from a store pick, i believe its an independent bottling. Looking forward to that.

[@johnandrus3901]

Very nice! I've always enjoyed the Bunnahabhain line-up. I haven't seen the cask strength here, where I live, in the States, but the standard bottling is usually available and is quite fine, too. I also enjoy the Stiuireadair, (that is a pain to type.)😉 I've never been disappointed with the Bunnahabhain offerings. Maybe the cask strength will show up at my local shop. I certainly hope so. An excellent video, as always.

[@greatestytcommentator]

I loathed the Sturiederriere... 😅 It was awful. Love Bunny 12 though.. always in my top 3 list

[@johnandrus3901]

I understand that it isn’t for everyone. I usually like the more peated Scotch, but I like to switch-up my drams, now and then. It keeps things interesting.

[@chrismarshall4486]

Love your reviews! I’m about to get a bottle of bunna 12. I was debating on getting the cask strength or regular 12

[@WhiskeySavages]

Go cask strength for sure if you can find it. it's worth it

[@michaelgonzalez347]

This bunna cask strength is wonderful. I think each, 2021,22 and 23 just got better each year. It had ny vote. I need to get a few dorm the stash. It's still at a reasonable price too.

[@rkostyantyn]

The only packaging that simply cannot be thrown away due to their coolness is the Bruichladdich metal tubes)

[@unforgettablefire535]

trickier to find this one in the USA.

[@AlexH-b3o]

The cat is 100% learning that interrupting your (excellent) videos gets it treats

[@cliffhughes6010]

On the pallet it has notes of Venus fly-trap, paving slabs and my old mum's sponge cake. Lovely. I'm kidding, I haven't tried it yet. But on the strength of this review, and because I love the regular 12, I will.

[@ytbenny1964]

Ralfy. We could still see your breath so we can assume it was rather chilly in the bothy. Do you feel that the cold temperature affects your tasting note? Should we warm that glen cairn with our hands?

[@forlornHope]

Cheers 🥃

[@SimonneNZ]

Haven't seen the cask strength here but the standard 12yo is really good. Smart Billy knows that if he blocks the camera with his big furry butt, he'll get treats. Cheers!

[@tomlivesay8407]

I have yet to try it, but I shall.

[@wowodine]

Have you ever tried the Lagavulin 12 limited release cask strength Green box ? It’s probably my favorite , I only know the 2018 release though .. cost me 145€ would love a review of that one

[@the3cl3ctic]

Did you just light the fire ? Seems cold! 🥶

[@moeafram2520]

If there's nothing but a bottle of Bunnahabhain and Laphroaig in my cabinet, I'd be just fine.

[@lukesvideogameletsplays4416]

I think youll find a lot of the viewers will like the cat

[@125ctg]

I’ll think you’ll find more don’t.

[@lukesvideogameletsplays4416]

@125ctg not on my channel 😆

[@barleyman5957]

My uncle loves ralfys cat and every time he write me a Message „hey ralfys cat is in his new Video“😊

[@125ctg]

@@barleyman5957 the flatter the cat the better the cat. Environmental disasters.

[@Username-xd3qx]

The cat is a must-have. It's the comedic relief during Ralphy's speeches.

[@mgordo2]

Just wondering if the “traditional” Bunnahabhain 12 (at 46.3% abv) has diminished in quality recently given the emphasis on CS versions. It used to be magnificent. Has anyone had it recently?

[@peterfinucane8122]

Fine by me!

[@florislok]

Bought one a year ago. It’s my favorite bottle!

[@mgordo2]

@@florislok Thanks for the replies. Haven’t bought one in a while. It’s about $60.00 here in L.A., as opposed to at least twice as much for the various CS releases. I bought the 2022 CS here before all the hype began. Absolutely delicious. Nevertheless , as I’m drinking it, I’m wondering if it’s that much better than the standard release. In the end didn’t think so.

[@lesterdiamond12]

You’re not missing out either direction. Best non peated 12yr old in my opinion.

[@WeightlessBallast]

The cask strength seems to be 112 euros here in the Finnish Alko. I might invest that much because of the quality. It'll probably last for at least a year.

[@greatestytcommentator]

7.39 'paws' that video.... What a picture!😅

[@Username-xd3qx]

07:37 At this point I want to see a parody video of Ralphy's cat saying that they shouldn't demand for more treats as discerning felines. That they shouldn’t have to ask as treats are part of the social contract between people and cats, black & white, plain & simple.

[@penguinland666]

Been through 2 bottles of this in 2024 - pure joy. Sucks that there was no 2024 edition and 21 YO instead.

[@danhule]

is this cask strength? we only get the 46.3% in Canada i do love this whisky.

[@FrenchWDram]

Yes it's the 12 CS

[@WhiskeySavages]

I'm from Ontario. You have to look out west for CS. It can be found 👍

[@danhule]

@WhiskeySavages thank you!

[@WhiskeySavages]

@danhule believe me I know your pain

[@danhule]

@WhiskeySavages watching lagavulin 16 go from 115 to 190 has been heartbreaking 😢

[@mk.5706]

I couldn´t agree more with your latest malt marks: This CS is very, very good, but Benromachs CS is just a notch ahead of it.

[@adriannudelman4519]

Tremendo whisky Bunna 12 CS.

[@FrenchWDram]

Yes but the thing is : it's 80 pounds only in the UK. In France, Germany etc it's more than 100 euros, which is probably not a good deal at all. but they will surely sell anyways so sellers don't care about a fair price

[@well0so0they0say]

It comes from the UK (not the EU)….

[@FrenchWDram]

@@well0so0they0say Thank you captain obvious

[@Proefkonijntje]

I can get it for €82,95 in the Netherlands.

[@jtf2dan]

MAN!...I have been hunting that bottle for 8 years now and no luck. Last 4 years it has only been available in Quebec and Ontario by lottery. I have bid for it everytime, but with only dozens of bottles available each year and thousands bidding for them...I might never get one! Might have to take a trip to Scotland and see if my odds increase!

[@ErmirMusic]

It’s readily available in Europe. Any retailer might offer to ship it to you . See if it’s worth it. You might have to pay import taxes, but you can ask not to pay European sales taxes.

[@greatestytcommentator]

Hmmm, this might have to go on the wishlist...

[@MyScottyboy1]

363rd in!! That's quick for me.

[@barlotardy]

Bunnahabhain, year to year, is either spectacular, or tastes like an old bowling shoe. There is no in between.

[@hyperdram]

I heard that the 12 CS yearly bottlings will be discontinued. Can anyone confirm this?

[@MaltDaddy]

the 2022 version is even more special than this in my opinion

[@funkyskypilot]

Opened this at Christmas and found the initial neck pour a bit too oaky, dry and astringent. Leaving it a few weeks to open up. Also I was surprised by its unwillingness to show the scotch mist in comparison with earlier bottlings, but this could be down to the higher abv. The jury is still out for me.

[@HansAPlast-sw6ho]

😊

[@garynapolitano1270]

I found this to need 7 squeezes of my dropper & 25 minutes

[@mr2gordons940]

That took a long time for someone in the industry to inform you of the requirement to use a different recipe for longer term maturation. Was it supposed to be an industry secret?

[@ivanthetolerable]

OSWA voters caught on late in this instance, perhaps bandwagoning over Arran.

[@20thoughts]

Maaaan. I hope there's a straight-60 ABV version so it's legal in Norway. That .1% makes it illegal! :D

[@bblair2627]

Billy, dont be a hero

[@proseforpoets]

A M ! My fave was “Dragg’in a line…”

[@YoJimBo851610]

29👍

[@robtudor3785]

How is it against the 2022?

[@zogy628]

For me the 2022 was better the scotch mist turned the whisky milky so very little filtration

[@wallace-bv4rl]

Most reviews I’ve seen favour one of the earlier releases but maybe that was 21 best 22 great 23 almost as good as 21. 😂 as I have a bad memory I’m not sure I believe me! As others say the 22 is the standout Gwhisky does a good review

[@FrenchWDram]

22 seems to be much better according to bloggers and YT review. But that's still a very expensive bottle at only 12 yo!

[@ONLYFLAMS1]

@@FrenchWDramnot bad for a 12 year cask strength - I got a bottle for £69 seems decent value to me . Paid £80 for spring bank 12 cask strength too which is also a great bottle

[@peatbull3426]

2022 was classic sherry bomb. Very dark fruity 2023 is more nutty, almondy, chocolaty . Depend what you like. Seems like there is more sherry bomb lovers among whisky lovers thats why 2022 edition have so much adore. Personaly i prefer 2023 🤷‍♂️ 😁🥂🥂🥂🙋‍♂️

[@andypike1234]

So almondy and marzipany

[@steven4570]

I guess I’m the odd one out, I hated this bottle. It had this weird taste in it that I couldn’t get past, like the wood had rot in it or something. Even for 60% it was hot and rough.

[@mattpetersen4620]

$150 here in Tokyo. So a big Pass.

[@mattpetersen4620]

I gotta add, I agree with bringing the marks down to reality, but as highly as you speak of this bottling, a 90 should be in order. UNLESS, you are still ( justifiably) comparing it to bottlings of 15 plus years ago. Just an observation.

[@EmsThaBreaks441]

And KZbin's advice is that videos with cats in do better. Or is KZbin only recommending Ralfy videos with cats in them?

[@ironmantran]

i HOPE people would buy a tad less of these Scotches . . . o some can come to Canada/Ontario. . . we're so dry over 10 years now ! !

[@danmorgan7775]

A lot more feline mischief in your videos so far this year.

[@MacMichael267]

Frankly, I did not like this bunna a bit, too nippy and nothing too special with water, especially when compared to the older regular 12-year-old. Just my humble opinion.

[@barryhamilton7845]

I've had the 2021 and 2022,and both i thought were brilliant? Ive just not tried the 2023 yet? Im looking forward to the new release of Glenallachies 10 year old cask strength batch 12 soon to be released. Great whisky as well.