Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhona 50% Islay Single Malt Whisky 1l

The Bunnahabhain Distillery is using the fresh water from the Margadale River to produce premium whiskies like the Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhona. Usually the company’s spirits are not of a heavily smoky character but this expression is a bit different. It tends towards the typical Islay smokiness.

On the nose the smoky peat pushes forward but leaves enough space to hay aromas and a light saltiness. The peat has just a small part of phenol and is mainly of a bonfire smoke. On the palate the first impression is very soft and gentle with a nice, malty sweet touch. After a short moment, the smokiness appears and combines with spicy, peppery flavours as well as with a salty sea breeze. The finish is becoming drier. Mainly the spicy and smoky impressions stay to the very end.

Little by little the Bunnahabhain Distillery increased the production of smoky Islay whiskies. The company started those new creations in about 1997. The Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhona could be called a typically Islay single malt. The Isle of Islay is renowned for various smoky malts that come from this little island. Its name is also pointing out its Islay character. Cruach Mhona is Gaelic and can be translated as “peat stack”. A peat stack is a pile of freshly cut peat. It is piled up so that is can dry before it is used to fire the kiln. Kiln-drying the malted barley with a peat fire is already predetermining the flavours of the whisky to a certain amount, even though not a single drop of alcohol has been distilled so far.

The Bunnahabhain Distillery was established by William Robertson, James Ford and James Greenlees in 1881 but the first spirit was not produced until 1883. It found its place close to the village of Port Askaig and is one of eight distilleries on the Queen of the Hebrides, as the Isle of Islay is called as well.