Side by side
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old vs Kanosuke
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old
32 positive (97%) · 0 mixed (0%) · 1 negative (3%)
Trust + time weighted: +92%
AI summary — not a quote
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old is highly celebrated on Reddit as a premier "sherry bomb" and a standout unpeated Islay single malt. It is frequently cited as a superior, more affordable alternative to mainstream sherry-casked whiskies like Macallan, praised for its rich, nutty, and intense flavor profile that retains a distinct maritime saltiness.
Pros
- Rich sherry-forward profile with intense fruit and nut notes
- Unique unpeated Islay character that maintains briny and salty maritime traits
- Excellent value for money, often recommended as a budget-friendly artisan choice
- Highly recommended as an 'entry-level' bottle for those new to scotch or the distillery
Cons
- The heavy sherry influence may be overwhelming for those who prefer a more subtle cask impact
Top excerpts
Do you want a sherry bomb? You can find plenty of it in literally any region, eg Bunnahabhain, Tamdhu, Glenallachie, Glenfarclas, Glendronach, Glenrothes etc
if you want a decent ex sherry, grab Bunnahabhain 12, Glenallachie, Glendronach, Tamdhu..
if you want some sherry have a look at Tamdhu, Redbreast, Glenallachie, Bunnahabhain (all 12yos)
If you found the Glenfarclas to be sherry heavy, don't the Bunnahabhain 12 that is far more sherry-oriented than the farclas.
Tamdhu 12, Bunnahabhain 12, anything Glenallachie, Glendronach 12, sister distillery to Mac Glenrothes or Glengoyne.
Kanosuke
30 positive (86%) · 5 mixed (14%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +86%
AI summary — not a quote
Kanosuke is widely regarded as a rising star and a "hidden gem" in the Japanese whisky industry, praised for delivering high quality and exceptional value that often rivals or exceeds more established, hyped brands. As a younger distillery, it is frequently compared to Mars and Akkeshi, with enthusiasts noting its unique flavor profiles that range from sweet and bourbon-like to lightly peated expressions.
Pros
- Excellent value-to-performance ratio within the current Japanese whisky market
- Unique and memorable flavor profiles, including a 100% barley expression that mimics bourbon characteristics
- Consistently high quality across both core offerings and limited releases
- Highly recommended as a superior alternative to more mainstream, expensive brands like Yamazaki
Cons
- Can be difficult to find, often requiring specialized retailers or travel to Japan
- Some expressions can taste "hot" on the initial neck pour and require time to breathe
Top excerpts
Kanosuke is always excellent to my tastes. The 2023 release on the end there was a lightly peated release and was quite unique and memorable.
The Kanosuke is really good too but it has a sweet flavor I'm not familiar with.
I am a huge fan of Kanosuke and I've had a few bars mention that their new 2024 Japan-Exclusive offering distilled at their Hioki Distillery is like they take on bourbon through japanese whisky (It is still 100% barley though).
As someone who drinks shochu, I pretty easily pick up the shochu influence in Kannosuke's malts. And while I like both whisky and shochu, I am not sure I appreciate them together, which makes my overall opinion of Kannosuke a little uncertain.
Probably one of the Kanosukes, any 3 of the cheaper ones are all single malts and very delicious.