Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Geine Review

My first response when someone says “I got this from Duty-Free” is to say I’m sorry. Sorry that they wasted their money on the whisky distilleries couldn’t get rid of any other way than to travelers who get suckered in with the allure of “exclusivity”. But like with the Highland Park 14 Years Loyalty of the Wolf, I gave, decided to take a gamble and I bought this Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Geine… oi.

The more Travel Retail whiskies I have the stronger my opinion is that it’s where they put their failed experiments. I love Laphroaig, but their latest TR release, the Four Wood, is terrible. However, we’re not here to talk about that one, we’re here to talk about this Bunnie. I’m sure you know where this is headed by my tone but we’re here and the bottle is open so let’s get into this scotch review.

Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Geine Review: Details and Tasting Notes

In Bunnahabhain’s Words:

Eirigh Na Greine [pronounced ae-ree ne gray-nyuh] means ‘Morning Sky’ in Scots Gaelic, and, like the morning sky, glows amber gold. Exclusively matured in French Red Wine Casks, this Travel Retail Exclusive is a rich, fruity malt with lots of sweet spice.

Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: Islay, Scotland

Distiller: Bunnahabhain
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-French Red Wine
Age: NAS (3+ years)
ABV: 46.3%

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Price: $100

Tasting Notes

EYE
Toffee

NOSE
Stale chocolate, graham, smoke, stale raisins, artificial butterscotch, fruit oil, apricots, apples and raw spirit.

PALATE
Stale cocoa powder, graham, smoke, stale raisins, artificial butterscotch, fruit oil, apricots, apples and raw spirit with touches of powdered sugar, strawberry taffy and raw spirit.

FINISH
Medium -> Smoke, stale dried fruit and oil.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Not balanced, medium body and oily feel.

Stale, that’s the best adjective I can use on this one. Stale chocolate all around.

Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Geine Review: Overall and Score

I’ve definitely had better Bunnie. The Aroma is raw, sweet and unappealing, it smells like a failed experiment; Palate isn’t any better and pulls in more of a stale profile to go along with the rawness; Finish is a bit smoky but on-the-whole carries a raw and stale essence.

As the Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Geine opens some light nuttiness shows up, but it doesn’t help it much. It never comes together and feels all over the place. It’s young and light and either needs more time in those casks or to have never been placed in those casks to begin with. Just a whole bottle of nope.

SCORE: 1.5/5