Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhòna

Nose: A bright, clear day on Islay. Brilliant blue skies, warm sunshine, and a bracing onshore breeze invigorate the senses during a morning stroll along the shore at Bunnahabhain Bay. Sunlight glints off the water, and you suddenly catch the scent of a beach bonfire – dried kelp burning on the sand, carried by occasional gusts of wind. Upwind, someone opens a container of freshly shucked oysters and squeezes lemon over them, and on the western hills, someone starts a diesel engine and fires up a Toscano cigar. Palate: A delicate sweet-salty entry with developing peppery smoke and a delightful oily texture. As it unfolds, the peat-smoke intensifies and expands, acquiring a warm, comforting tarry character and a phenolic presence. Creosote, lemon, Seville orange, rhubarb, sage, and salt build alongside the smoke. Finish: Medium/long. Initially herbal, smoky, and citrusy, but the late finish and aftertaste reveal a most unexpected chocolate-malt note, which is wonderful. The initial aroma is refreshing and crisp, continuing to open and develop as it rests. After a while, sweeter fruity scents become apparent, followed by more lemon, some soy sauce, and just a hint of discreet oak. It's a marvelous aroma, distinctly Islay. The palate is only slightly less impressive than the nose but still satisfying with its rich character. Do not add water; it is perfect neat. An (unfortunately) rare example of a good value TRE bottling. At retail prices, when available, this costs approximately AUD$160, but when I bought it at Sydney airport a while ago, it was AUD$115 for a 1-liter bottle, and at that price, I would certainly recommend it. It is very different in profile from the Lagavulin 16 I tasted yesterday, but easily its equal. I have sampled several of the peated Bunnahabhain expressions, and this is by far my favorite. "Very Good": 85/100 (4 stars)

What we have here is another sample from what I refer to as Bunnahabhain’s Unpronounceable Series. This is a travel retail exclusive, and I received a sample of this from a friend after I traded him this bottle for something else that I can't recall right now. He was generous enough to send me a hearty pour so I could review it. It has a deep gold color with indistinct legs that slowly trail down the Glencairn after a vigorous swirl. It leaves behind tiny, watery droplets even though it's bottled at a substantial 50% ABV. I paid just over $110 for this 1L bottle from an online shop based in the UK. The nose is initially dominated by campfire and creosote smoke. There's a nice splash of red berries, but that charcoal note overshadows the fruitiness. Then I detect an odd, musty smell. It doesn't fit – sometimes I get that same type of band-aid note from a few Islay whiskies, and I feel it's out of place. It's not unpleasant, it just doesn't quite belong. Fortunately, it fades, but so does the berry note, leaving only the smoke. The mouthfeel on the palate is pleasant. There's smoky, earthy peat mingled with some fresh pastry notes. Those delicious red and black raspberries reappear. It's a bit thick, especially for such a high ABV, but it works. The finish is medium to long but becomes quite harsh, leaving a significant amount of alcohol heat lingering longer than I'd prefer. The smoke is gone, the fruits are gone – it's just abrasive alcohol. This is where some well-aged spirit needed to intervene and salvage the dram, but it doesn't, which is unfortunate. Overall, it had much more potential than I believe it fulfilled. The unusual nose and high-heat finish significantly impacted the overall score. 3 stars. Cheers.

Another sample from the bonus selection. This time we explore Bunnahabhain on Islay's northern coast, featuring Cruach-Mhòna, a travel retail exclusive. The Gaelic name translates to “peat stack.” This single malt is bottled at a respectable 50% ABV, is non chill filtered, and has a natural medium amber color. The nose presents sweet, billowing peat smoke... I'm already loving it! Sherry maturation is noticeable with sugary dates, plums, raspberries, and blackberries. Cigar ashes, creosote, tennis balls, and rubber... oh, it’s wonderful, a genuine Islay profile. There's also vanilla custard, some polished oak, molasses, ginger, and even a hint of teriyaki. It shifts slightly towards citrus with oranges/tangerines and a twist of lemon. Adding water enhances the berries and ashy notes. The palate is dominated by sweet peat. Sherry and raspberries. Tennis balls and rubber are present, though less pronounced than on the nose. Orange peel, licorice, almonds or perhaps hazelnut, and some well-integrated oak are also detected. Water diminishes the intensity and introduces a slightly bitter taste. It's definitely better enjoyed without water. A medium to full-bodied mouthfeel that is oily, creamy, and mouthwatering. The finish is long, smoky, and somewhat sweet, with creosote and the smoke lingering for quite some time. Aside from the Ardbeg 23 I recently tried, this is the first authentic Islay I've had in a while. Oh, how I missed this! I really enjoyed the nose, but the palate was slightly less complex than I would have preferred. I suppose that's typical for a NAS, travel retail offering. At $100, I find it a bit overpriced (even for a 1L bottle), but I might be tempted to buy it if I found a bottle. Thanks to a friend for the sample. A solid 4. Cheers.

Bunnahabhain, the Islay producer known for its tricky name and varied profiles. Despite their unusual expressions, I generally enjoy their whiskies, finding them to be interesting. They even have a bottling (Moine) that secured a spot in my top 10 affordable whiskies for 2020. However, this Cruach Mhòna is not among their exceptional offerings. Just to clarify, "Cruach Mhóna" isn't a form of combat; it translates from Gaelic to "drying pile of peat bricks." This indicates it's a peated release from Bunna, a distillery primarily recognized for its unpeated selections. This expression is bottled at 50% ABV and has a tawny hue. The aroma is decent. It begins with a grape-like scent, evolving into an earthy peatiness complemented by suggestions of vanilla and chocolate. The peat offers a pleasant perfumed quality, reminiscent of lavender, with a subtle citrus aroma emerging. Hay and heather notes are also present. Following an initial taste, more vanilla and a sandy character become apparent. The taste is quite discordant. It's immediately peaty, which I found appealing, but then a wave of saltiness arrives. There's a hint of meatiness, followed by overwhelming saltiness. Subsequent sips reveal a faint vanilla note, but the dominant characteristic remains an excess of salt. The finish is somewhat improved but remains very disappointing and slightly unpleasant. It has peat, hay, and a touch of vanilla. A sharp, peppery note emerges, like popping candy. Then, the saltiness returns. It's akin to consuming a spoonful of salt or eating an excessively seasoned cut of meat. Not enjoyable. In summary, I regret trying this, though the nose provides some redemption. I considered stopping before finishing the glass. The extreme saltiness made it difficult; I'm unsure if anyone would appreciate this, but perhaps such a preference exists. It's not to my liking, earning a very forgiving score of 63 out of 100. I do not recommend it.

On a dreary autumn evening, contemplating forgotten scotch from the days of the SDT group. This cold Halloween night calls for something warm and smoky. A smooth, earthy, mildly phenolic aroma with considerable sweetness. Smells like rubber tires, damp earth, vanilla custard, lemon zest, brown sugar, and raspberry jam. It really needs time to settle. Over time, a slight spice emerges, like cracked black pepper, ginger powder, and cinnamon. The initial sip is prickly with a medium body. As my palate adjusts, the flavors become apparent: creme brûlée, sherry, almonds, and vanilla, which quickly transitions to wood spice and ginger. Adding water softens the rubber notes on the nose and smooths the sharp edges on the palate. The finish is long, ashy, and sooty with a tingling sensation that quickly fades. As it slowly recedes, black licorice, wood char, and drying tannins linger on the long finish. This spirit felt a bit disjointed and challenging to identify aromas and flavors. It's somewhat unusual and odd. However, the sweet phenolic qualities are pleasing. Water diminishes the oddness and removes its character. Perhaps more aging would provide the cohesiveness it lacks. Thanks to a friend for the sample, long overdue. [84/100][Tasted: 10/31/20]

This was a memorable moment for me. Typically, I struggle with intensely peated whiskies that carry aromas of bacon, fireplaces, or ash. However, despite possessing these characteristics, I found myself unexpectedly appreciating and enjoying this one. The aroma presents as cool ash, but more prominently, like a wood fire. Citrus notes and green spices are equally noticeable. The palate, while possessing a bit of heat, offers flavors of toasted bread, nearly burnt in a toaster. Nutty notes are also present, with pistachios standing out distinctly. It maintains a citrusy profile and lingers with a prolonged sourness and a long-lasting peaty smoke. Having sampled this, I'm hopeful about developing a greater appreciation for heavily peated whiskies going forward. After a few sips of this, I feel I understand the appeal for peat enthusiasts. I truly grasp its essence now. My compliments to Bunnahabhain for this revelation. Update: The more I consume it, the greater my enjoyment. It is genuinely intriguing, mellow, delightful, salty, and not at all stale or unpleasant. It resembles a freshly roasted pan of fruit (both common and tropical varieties) from a wood smoker.