Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine

Nose: Sweet red berries, sultanas, raisins. The alcohol is well-integrated, and the aroma is warm and inviting. With further sniffing, I detected petrichor and a distant sea spray, though it's more mineralic than maritime. Notes of nutmeg and cloves, and a hint of good (but not old) oak. The nose continued to improve with time, revealing sandalwood. Diluting with water softens the aroma but diminishes the coastal character. Palate: A sweet initial taste with toffee and honey. Berries, sweet spices, and herbs emerge. Again, there's a mineralic quality, bringing pebble beaches to mind, but still not quite maritime. An almost-bitter note like marmalade, some chocolate, and young, soft tannins are present. The texture is slightly syrupy. Finish: Medium/Long, with savory/sweet berries and spices. This was a very agreeable, relatively young, no-age-statement Bunnahabhain that exceeded my initial expectations. The nose, in particular, developed beautifully with pleasantly mature and sweet wood notes balanced by distinct mineralic/maritime aromas. The palate was pleasant from the start but gained depth and complexity over time. There's a faint smoky quality, noticeable only on the palate and finish after several sips, not on the nose. Adding water greatly benefits this whisky; the nose becomes comforting and restful, like a well-worn sweater. The palate becomes very smooth, berry notes intensify along with vanilla and caramel, and it seamlessly transitions into the aftertaste. A hint of sourness appears in the final flavors but doesn't spoil the profile. I believe good casks were used for this young NAS, allowing it to perform beyond its presumed level. Whether ex-Sherry hogsheads would have yielded a better result than the red wine casks is debatable and depends on one's preference for red-wine cask finishing. In fact, this spirit in ex-Sherry casks would likely be Stiùireadair. Tasted from a 30ml sample. “Good”: 83/100 (3.5 stars)

From the "unpronounceable" Bunnahabhain range, this is Eirigh Na Greine, meaning "Morning Sky" in Gaelic. This whisky, which is non-chill filtered and contains no added color, possesses a deep copper, reddish hue, much like a morning sky. Matured in various red wine casks from Italy and France, this is a fine dram that showed great promise on the nose but failed to deliver on the palate. Bottled at 46.3% ABV. The nose is simply marvelous. Prepare for some unusual notes. Upon opening, it releases a Coca-Cola scent. A few seconds later, even before pouring, it gives off the exact aroma of another rare Argentinian spirit, Fernet. It took me back to an Argentinian disco where Fernet is the preferred drink. After pouring, it smells of dry brown cake, prunes, thick old orange syrup, all enveloped in a very pleasant earthy peatiness. Ashes also make an appearance. After 5 minutes of airing, an overwhelming sweetness emerges, and I must admit it took me some time to identify the exact note... it was Trix cereal. Children's Trix. I'm not exaggerating. I loved it. After the first taste, a lot of red fruitiness appears on the nose. There's a children's cough syrup called "Coricidin" that is extremely sweet. It smells exactly like that. A perfect score for the nose. The palate is still good, but nowhere near the nose. It's very pleasant, starting sweet with red fruits, then becoming spicy, and then this Trix cereal sensation returns. A second taste is very earthy - dry. Almondy. The aftertaste immediately gives a puff of smoke. A chocolate powder sensation that dries the mouth. It's a warm spirit that drains the saliva. Smoky like cigarettes. Earthy. A short to medium finish. It's woody. Like sawdust. Overall, I adored this dram, but the palate and aftertaste aren't as captivating as its incredible aroma. I wish I could give it a higher rating, but a fair score is 88 out of 100. For $60, it's worth trying.

It's time for a new non-age-statement release from the Islay distillery, Bunnahabhain. Eirigh Na Greine (pronounced aa-ree-na-grey-nyuh) is a limited release not available in the US, containing Bunnahabhain spirit of undisclosed age that has been finished in ex-French red wine casks. The name translates to “Morning Sky” and was inspired by the head distiller watching the sunrise over Islay on his way to work each morning. It's bottled at 46.3% ABV, has a bronze/red color, and produces oily and thin legs when tasted. It is natural color/NCF and cost about $90 to import from the U.K. The aroma was incredibly faint, even after 20-25 minutes and requiring me to place my nose so deeply into the glass that I nearly inhaled the spirit itself. Faint notes of dried red fruits and berries, toasted almonds, and butterscotch are present but difficult to discern. This is not an auspicious beginning. However, the palate starts with impact. A pleasant initial sherry explosion followed by a variety of orchard fruits: ripe cherries, green grapes, and oranges. It's nice and creamy until the middle sip when the younger malt character emerges and becomes somewhat salty and dry. It was enjoyable while it lasted. This is the primary drawback of NAS whisky - the spirit lacks roundness and refinement without aging. The finish is characterized by fruity and nutty spice cake. It's also quite warm. It lingers and is drying. It's not bad; I just wish it left a more oily mouthfeel rather than a dry one. Overall, it's a decent NAS from Bunnahabhain. I recently purchased four different NAS bottles from them, and this one is a solid start. If they all perform similarly, I will be pleased with my acquisitions. As a side note, this bottle had a very loose-fitting cork, and I suspect I will need to decant it to prevent premature oxidation. Then again, that might help with any harshness, who knows? 3.75 stars. Cheers.

This is the initial tasting. Never prejudge a whisky based on its first impression. Aroma: The first pour reveals red wine cask notes—raisins, berries, and a touch of sea salt. This spirit is quite reserved. After resting for 20 minutes, the aroma remained subtle, prompting the addition of water, which then brought out berry-flavored candy notes. Another 20 minutes passed, and the aroma shifted to resemble berry soda. Taste: The palate is more appealing than the aroma. It's rich and coats the mouth. Abundant berries—raspberries, cherries—are present, along with a hint of chocolate, reminiscent of a dessert. There's a touch of spice, possibly from its youth, tasting like dark chocolate-covered fruits and candies. Diluting it further enhances the experience (a few drops, 4ml total). Finish: The finish doesn't last as long as advertised. I'd describe it as medium. It offers a pleasant subtle bitterness, perhaps tannins creating dryness, with notes of dried berries and dark chocolate, ending with a sweet licorice flavor. The dryness is noticeable. General Thoughts: This first taste shows potential with a layered aroma and rich palate. The combination of berries and chocolate offers a distinctive experience. While the finish isn't exceptionally long, this whisky seems to possess depth that will unfold with further sampling. It warrants deeper exploration. Interestingly, there was no peat or smoke detected at all, not even a trace. I'll be tasting this again soon.

Sweet, meaty, creamy, and juicy, with mid-level pepper and grape notes. Rated 2.25. It's acidic, has low peat and oakiness, and is one-dimensional. Rated 2. Oaky, deep, with a mid-level sustain. Rated 2. Rated 2. Sweetness, pleasant, mild and elegant, with floral notes. Rated 3. Woody, peppery, with bitterness and oakiness at the back; clearly an American oak barrel, giving a strong tannin hit. Rated 1. Mid oaky, with sustained notes. Rated 1.75. Rated 1.75. Dense, with caramel, sweetness, salt, mid-level pepper, and fruitiness. Rated 2.75. Light, delicate, with iodine, a substantial feel, earthy notes, iodine, spiciness, sharpness, and oakiness. Rated 1. Oaky, raw, with sustained notes. Rated 1.5. Rated 1.75. BUNNAHABHAIN EIRIGH NA GREINE 46.3%. Bunnahabhain's Eirigh Na Greine was initially released for the Travel Retail market, its name translating to 'Morning Sky' in Gaelic. A portion of this single malt was matured in red wine casks, imparting juicy berry flavors throughout, complemented by hints of sea salt and orchard fruit. The intensity is very shy and not overpowering. Dense berry, dryness, not the typical vanilla sweetness; you won't get that on the nose. Berry, raspberry, grapes, with low to mid-level pepper. Rated 2. The taste reflects the wine cask, with berry notes, sweetness, a nutty aroma, a slight hint of pepper, smooth character, and finishing with bitterness and dark chocolate. Rated 2.75. Oaky, with mid-level sustain. Rated 2.5. Rated 2.25.

Nose - Dark honey, sea salt, dark amber pear cider, strawberry jam. Taste - Starts thin & drying on the palate, with oaky aged Riesling sweetness, lightly fruity tannins, red berries, a hint of saltiness, light oaky drying bitterness, a touch of dark chocolate, and black pepper spice. Finish - Lingering oaky Riesling sweetness, red wine tannic dryness, white pepper tingle, and amber honey sweetness. Score - 90/100 Final Thoughts - I really enjoy this one. The nose is pleasant, balancing fruit and chocolate. The mouthfeel is a bit thin initially, but the flavors are very present. There's a nice balance suggesting both Riesling/Moscato/Gewürztraminer sweetness and red wine fruitiness/tannins. Pleasant amber honey sweetness and a touch of white pepper spice. All the flavors are right up my alley.