Bunnahabhain Muscat finish

This situation highlights my wish for distilleries to be more transparent with their labeling. Muscat encompasses a wide spectrum of wines, from dry sweet Italian white wines (like Asti Moscato from Piedmont) to yellow (Moscato Giallo), pink (Moscato Rosa), and dark purple (Muscat Hamburg). It's even used for liqueurs. However, the general characteristic is floral. This particular bottling is an 11-year-old hand-filled Bunna, fully matured in Muscat casks, and is essentially only available at the distillery. I have no clue whether I'm tasting white, pink, or yellow wine casks. The liquid in the glass is a pale bronze, suggesting a yellow or white Muscat. Aroma: sunflower seeds, hemp oil. Flavor: dry, herbaceous, likely somewhat salty and sweet. I'm not detecting any floral notes. It's an interesting experiment. While not my preferred Bunna, I appreciate it given its limited availability through retail channels or online.

I should raise this to a 4.25. Upon a second tasting, once the spirit has been allowed to rest, the alcohol burn dissipates, revealing a delightful sweet and salty equilibrium. Truly a masterful creation. After letting it sit, one can also discern the influence of the muscat casks...possibly Italian Asti white, given its dryness, subtle sweetness, and hue.

June 30, 2019