Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine

It’s time for a newer NAS release from Islay distillery, Bunnahabhain. Eirigh Na Greine (pronounced aa ree na gray nyuh) is a non-US, limited release that contains undisclosed age Bunnahabhain spirit that was finished in ex-French red wine casks. The name translates to “Morning Sky” and it was inspired by the head distiller’s arrival to work each morning as he stopped to watch the sun rise over Islay. It’s bottled at 46.3% ABV, is bronze/red in color and creates oily and skinny legs in the taster. It’s natural color/NCF’d and cost about $90 to have imported from the U.K. The nose was incredibly weak, even after 20-25 minutes and me having to put my nose so far down into the glass that I practically inhaled the actual spirit itself. Faint notes of dried red fruits and berries, toasted almonds and butterscotch are there it’s just hard to get them to reveal themselves. This isn’t a great start. The palate starts with a bang, though. A nice initial sherry explosion followed by a parade of orchard fruits: ripe cherries, green grapes and oranges. It’s nice and creamy until mid sip when the younger malt presence appears and turns a bit salty and dry. It was fun while it lasted, at least. This is the biggest weakness of NAS whisky- you just don’t get a rounded and calmed spirit without the aging. The finish is all fruity and nutty spice cake. It’s pretty warm as well. Long and drying. It’s not bad, I just wish it left more of an oily mouthfeel instead of a dry one. Overall, it’s a decent NAS from Bunnahabhain. I recently bought 4 different NAS bottles from them and this one is a solid start. If they all deliver like this one I’ll be happy with my purchases. On a side note, this bottle had a very loose fitting cork and I think I’m going to end up decanting it, otherwise it may oxidize a bit too quick. Then again, that may help the harshness, who knows? 3.75 stars. Cheers.

Nose - Dark honey, sea salt, dark amber pear cider, strawberry jam. Taste - Initially thin & drying mouthfeel, oaky aged riesling sweet, lightly fruity tannic, red berries, hint of saline, light oaky drying bitterness, hint of dark chocolate, black pepper spice. Finish - Lingering oaky riesling sweet, red wine tannic dryness, white pepper tingle, amber honey sweet. Score - 90/100 Final Thoughts - I really like this one. Nice nose with a balance of fruity and chocolate. A tiny bit thin on the mouthfeel initially but that's not a huge problem as the flavors are very present. Nice balance of what leads me to believe that there was also some sweeter white wine influence here as I get something either riesling/moscato/gewurztraminer sweet mixed with some red wine fruity tannic. Nice amber honey sweet and a tiny bit of white pepper spice. All the flavors right in my alley.

Good smell of red wine casks, almost like that in the cellar. High in alcohol thus a good burn finish. Kind of overpowers the flavours. Leaves one with the mystery of dosecting the actual flavours. But has some orange peel.