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Bunnahabhain Cruach-Mhona

On sale

R 1,459.00

Cruach Mhona is a batch produced whisky. The batch sizes are unspecified, but global travel retails is a very big place, so it’s reasonable to assume that we’re talking about tens of thousands here. It’s also reasonable to assume some degree of batch variance here, talking to others about this particularly bottling. It comes delivered at 50% ABV and in a 1 litre bottle. At London’s Heathrow, this will set you back £65 – if you’re buying this outside of travel retail (and thus paying the premium for that), it’ll be nearer to £85. We’re taking a look at the latest batch – 13.

Nose: Immediately coastal and quite savoury - brine and seashells with a meaty, yeasty quality – rather akin to Bovril. Smoke runs throughout the nose, and is a mixture of oily coal dust, tar and bonfire (but don’t expect it to be at a level from other Islay big hitters). There’s some pleasant citrus here which plays nice against the seaside and meaty aromas. In the background, slight rubber tyres and engine room oil (both regularly fixtures for me within peated expressions from Bunnahabhain). A few drops of water adds some barley and egg noodles as well as oat cakes.

Taste: A medium mouthfeel with slightly oily arrival. Coastal again, but with some grassiness along for the ride. The smoke is a touch more gentle now than on the nose – brine, BBQ’d meats and vegetables (Sunday roast) – still rubbery and still tempered by citrus. It’s sweeter than you might initially expect. In the back palate, things become drying and oaky. The addition of water brings out some apples and further emphasises the citrus flavours, as well as adding a touch of chalkiness and ash.

Finish: Medium in length with herbalness, brine and drying bonfire smoke.

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