Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair

My third Bunnahabhain after the 12-yo and the Ceobanach. The neck pour had this nice malty nose. In later pours, the nose was interestingly more alcoholic and thin at the beginning - after swirling it became better. Sherry - not much of it. I might prefer the 12-yo (did not compare it head to head yet). The Stiùiredair is on the sweet and grainy side as well, but with less caramel/vanilla notes. No peat. But I was a bit bothered by the alcoholic and stingy nose (like Kirschschnaps) - maybe this will disappear with open-bottle age. Maybe it is this what they call „coastal“- indeed a bit salty. The mouthfeeling here is less creamy/full than in the 12-yo. A bit bitterish - more oak ? (NAS - so it must be younger). At the end, this is an ok dram, though. But I enjoy the 12-yo much more. 2.75/5 Retasting 03.12.2021: The bottle has been opened 2 months ago. And I have to admit, it‘s getting better. The alcoholic sting is much less present now. Now the sherry is clearly there. Actually I quite enjoy it now… Upgrade from 2.75 to 3.0 now.

Welcome to another Bunnahabhain unpronounceable expression, this time the "STRUYERYER" (that is how it sounds, allegedly, when spoken). Stiuireadair means Helmsman, who is the sailor that steers the helm of a ship. Bottled at 46.3%abv, matured in first and second filled sherry casks. On the nose, it is very tropical. Pineapple, spongy cake, tropical fruits like peaches. Honey; very appealing on the nose, yeasty cake. There is a gosthly chocolate and brownies. I loved it. On the palate, it is very sweet. Vanilla, spongy cake and "dulce de tres leches" topping. It is very spongy and cakey. Reminds me of glenmorangie a tale of cake. Aftertaste was good but was the least good part. Chocolate, salty and gingery. Vanilla, Tres leches and red fruit finish. Overall, this was actually an incredible whisky for a very good price. This is not expensive at all, and it is full of flavor, an instant favorite, everyday dram. It has a decent amount of abv to achieve all this nice notes. My score for it is 93 over 100.

If you haven’t had Bunna 12, this is a tasty dram. Other reviewers aren’t wrong; it is hot because of how young it is. But it retains much of what makes Bunnahabhain such a great distillery. Respectable sherry characteristics like cherries, raisins, almonds. A decent oily mouthfeel. The maritime, salty characteristic helps mute some of the youthfulness of the whisky. And that’s where this whisky falls apart. It’s young, hot, and spicy. Where the 12 has, I would say, all the good qualities of this whisky, it also has more leather, more sherry influence, and more salinity. It is this whisky….aged for a minimum of 12 years. I actually really like this whisky. I love the Bunnahabhain flavour profile. And this whisky has it. It’s just not as good as the 12; especially when they’re priced so closely. My major knock against this dram is that Bunnahabhain makes a better whisky for, in my market, $5 more. Not a bad dram, but get the 12.

Upon the initial opening of the bottle, there were subtle hints of peat, though no traces of salinity were detected — a surprising characteristic for a coastal distillery. As the dram evolved, the peat quickly faded, giving way to a well-balanced profile of crisp apple, warm cinnamon, and a touch of ginger, brought forward by the higher proof and the influence of oak. The overall composition is refined and harmonious, showcasing the craftsmanship of Bunnahabhain. However, while it delivers an impressive first impression, the flavor profile tends to become somewhat monotonous over time, lacking the complexity needed to maintain long-term intrigue. Final Impression: A well-executed and approachable expression with excellent balance, but one that may not sustain prolonged interest for seasoned enthusiasts. 87/100 or 4.25/5

Nice packaging. Great price. Unforgiveable name I am sure is designed explicitly to intrigue but stymie (in equal parts) foreign consumers Light golden brown with an orange tint. Nutty nose - clearly sherried, but done appealingly. Almond extract. Pear. Jasmine. Opens with sweet syrup, then a vegetal cocoa lacking the cream required to make chocolate. Full flavored and sharp, comes off as quite salty (something I also get in the 12 year). A touch of crisp Granny Smith apple tartness. Very much a salted chocolate syrup with pronounced nutty, sherried elements. A rich and weighty distillate. I’ve enjoyed this bottle a lot and is an easy recommendation I’d you like bold sherried single malt at the entry-level price point. Well done and is not hindered by the lack of age statement.

No age statement. 46.3% vol. No coloring, No chill filtered. Nose: Old book store, house musty attic on the lake, salty ship's rope, brine. Sherry, dark fruit sweetness, toffee. Again sweet fruits Taste: rough, spice, taste isn't the strongest side of this drum, unrestrained young lad. Dried fruits at the back. Sweet. Finish: fructose sweetness, pleasant and enjoyable aftertaste, Love the 46 abv, no coloring and no chill filtered! This is the way! It's not soft but has his own character. Super sweet whith cigar Definitely need to try 12 yo. Reasonable prise