Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine

Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine, NAS, 46,3 %

This is the new Travel Retail offering from the Islay distillery Bunnahabhain. This is apparently the replacement for Darach Ur (more on that whisky here). The distillery presents this way with these words:

Eirigh Na Greine (pronounced Ae-ree ne gray-nyuh and meaning ‘Morning Sky’ in Gaelic) is an alluringly complex small-batch single malt Scotch whisky containing a significant proportion of high-quality ex-red wine cask-matured Bunnahabhain whiskies of various ages.

The retail price for this whisky appears to be around GBP 40.

Nose (22/25): The first impression is that of delicious top-shelf, gold premium marshmallows (if there is such a thing!), in other words - lot of sweet vanilla. Once the vanilla wave has dissipated somewhat I pick up a lot more going on here; soft and fluffy sugary puffs of wood smoke, sea salt, red berries and mild oakiness.

Taste (22/25): Sweet, rich and clean. Grandma's homemade caramel pudding, pepper, fresh vanilla, salt, mild caramel og hints of smouldering ashes. Red berries and a winey touch.

Finish (20/25): Keeps going as it started. Medium long finish. Warm. More spicy towards the end, especially pepper and ginger.

Balance (21/25): I have not always been very fond of the Travel Retail offerings from Bunnahabhain, although I am a big fan of the distillery overall. With the Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine I feel they have really come up with a great dram. It is not on level with the new and sublime Ceòbanach, but that was not to be expected.

Score (85/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas