Scott_E
Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhòna
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
November 1, 2020 (edited April 4, 2021)
Once upon an early evening dreary, while I pondered weak and weary over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten scotch... from the days of the SDT group. This chilly Halloween evening calls for something warm and smoky.
A soft, earthy, lightly phenolic nose which a good deal of sweetness. Rubber tire, damp soil, vanilla custard, lemon zest, brown sugar, raspberry jam. It really needs time to settle in. Over time, some slight spice comes through of cracked black pepper, ginger powder and cinnamon.
The first draw on the palate is prickly in a medium body. As the palate gets accustomed and acclimated, the flavors become detectable. Creme brûlée, sherry, almonds, vanilla which quickly turns to wood spice and ginger.
Water mutes the rubber notes on the nose and dulls the sharp edges on the palate.
The finish is long, ashy and sooty with tingling pins and needles, which quickly dissipates. As it slowly fades, black licorice, wood char and drying tannins ride the long finish.
This one was a bit disjointed and tough to identify aromas and flavors. It is somewhat funky and odd. However the sweet phenolic attributes are satisfying. Water takes away from funky oddness and removes it’s identity. Perhaps more time aging and maturing would bring this scotch the cohesiveness it lacks. Thanks @Telex for the sample, long overdue. [84/100][Tasted: 10/31/20]
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Yeah, I don't think there's much in the way of legal enforcement on what can be offered in duty free. The prices are also generally not that good. I read a piece a couple years back where a couple of journalists detailed the history of duty free and how it became what it has. At one point, they did a survey of goods in a duty free shop any found that while some were cheaper than they were available for elsewhere, predictably, there was on average no discount since the prices were just raised to account for the absence of taxes. I suspect a fair part of the point behind TRE is so you have no other price to compare to and feel like you're getting a good deal, sort of like how mattress stores offer to beat anyone else's price by 10%, but the mattress models are exclusive to each chain. Possibly also a "now or never" mentality to making the purchase.
@ContemplativeFox I have to confess I know little about how TRE works. I think availability is determined by spirit producers rather than government regulation - e.g. Diageo says "we will only supply this particular bottling to TRE stores so excise duty is not payable rather than export it to the country for retail sale and pay excise". However once a TRE store owner has bought stock and it is not moving I guess they are free to sell it on to a third party retailer inside the country, as long as excise is paid. TRE is very seldom good value for us in Australia, as the vast majority of things are also available at retail outlets at cheaper prices. The last time I went through TRE we had to really hunt for something that was worth buying.
@Scott_E i remember this one—-I think it took a while to develop in the glass.
@cascode Every once in a while, I see a TRE at retail or listed online domestically and I never understand how that happens. I guess it makes sense that they'd want the oversupply to be able to go somewhere without saturating the market, though honestly the whole TRE gimmick confuses me.
@Scott_E Nice review - I enjoyed this one a little more, it was my favourite from their range of TRE and NAS peated whiskies, but then again that's not saying a great deal. At regular TRE prices a litre of this is AUS$165, which is crazy. Fortunately we have an outlet here that can legally sell TRE to the domestic retail market and they often have specials (I think they are a disposal avenue for overstock). I picked up a bottle of this a year or so ago for less than AUS$100, at which price it is definitely worth buying, but I'd never pay the regular price.
@Telex it probably would grow on me too. Just had the thankful 2 ounces to make an assessment.
Glad you somewhat enjoyed it also... it grew on me overtime.
That's all it is @Jan-Case ? It's marked as $$$$, so I figured it was more like $100, close to the cost of Bunna 18.
@ContemplativeFox well, I like this particular Bunna quite a bid and I got it for 45 € / 50 $ which is reasonable, especially because this comes in a 1 liter bottle.
@ContemplativeFox I would have to agree with that. I know their non TRE stuff that I have had has been quite good.
It sounds like these Bunnahabhain NAS offerings are decent enough, but not worth the price.