Bunnahabhain Toiteach

I didn't have a lot of Bunnahabhain but I usually have a vegetable note that I don't like, something like boiled cabbage. But not with this one.

Toiteach means smoky, so its name is a program in itself. Is it up to it? Lets see. The reviewed bottle has been opened for close to two months and is 80% full.

The nose offers smoke, citrus, hay, eucalyptus, a load of salt, vanilla and light peat. There is also some light sherry notes like plum and a very light nutmeg.

The palate is more ashy, oily and with vanilla butter. The peat is light, herbal and meaty.When first opened, the palate translate more the sherry notes but now the ash and meaty parts are proeminent. there is also more sweetness to it.

The finish brings the ash forward and the eucalyptus is revisiting before fading. At the end you have a nice contrasting act between some bitter mineral notes and a sweetness that lost gradually is vanilla flavor. I like it, but I like dry finish more than the average whisky drinker.

Conclusion: The balance is good. Freshly opened, it was more complex, but even if the flavors are simple now, the are very good and very Islay. This whisky is a lot like a simple meal made with first quality ingredients. There is something very honest about it.

First and fore most, I must say, I'm a big Bunnahabhain fan. That being said, I already know I'm going to like this dram.

The bottle has been opened for about six weeks and I poured half a teaspoon of water.

Nose: Sweet peat, bananas, lemons, smoke, vanilla, oak.

Palate: Sweet peat arrives first. Then, Rushing through comes vanilla custard along with bananas, lemons and soft brine. And then that typical, sweet creaminess of Bunnahabhain. Yummy!

Finish: Tar and iodine is kept in check. A crescendo of that Bunna sweetness envelops the palate which then turns to leather with traces of milk chocolate in the back of the tongue.

This reminds me of Ardbeg 10, but not as lemony, and creamier.

This is my second peated Bunnahabhain, the first one being Young & Feisty by Douglas Laing, which I quite liked but perhaps was a bit too much on the young side.

Toiteach is better in all regards. The price in Norway (which at one point was lower than the UK, not sure if it still is) makes it a natural comparison to Laphroaig's Quarter Cask. I will not do a comparative review, but I'll say right now that if I did, QC would come out on top by only a small amount.

Nose: I'm immediately met with a warm, welcoming fruity sweetness, akin to sherry notes. After a few minutes in the glass, smoke and salt is making its way into the mix. I'll admit there are fusel alcohol notes to be found in the nose, implying a young age, but they are in no way unpleasant or dominant. After a while, I also found pleasant notes of leather.

I don't think I've ever had a glass of Toiteach and thought to myself "yep, same as last time". I'll admit my nose have been a bit off at times, but not every time. To me, this makes Toiteach interesting, while some might describe this as unbalanced, I'd rather call it enjoyable.

Taste: Sherry sweetness, a faint taste of chocolate. Pepper and smoke.

Finish: A delicious sweetness balanced against smoke, pepper and unripe plums.

With a splash of water, the sherry influence is more easily recognized, but without the whisky in any way being too sweet. I found the smoke and peppery notes to be somewhat more powerful, and more pleasant.

Comment: Balanced? Perhaps not, but not in a way that to me made this unpleasant in any way. I think Bunnahabhain certainly has proved they can make solid peated whisky.

Bunnahabhain is quickly becoming a favorite.

Warm thick sweet mouth coating arrival develops a strong and balanced fruit and vegetable smoke laden finish

This was a lovely whisky. One of the smokiest Ive tried from Islay. This is a bit younger than the 12 year old, but That extra peatiness, freshness is working very vell. No colour and no chillfiltration. Very nice..