At the back of the cupboard I have two driver’s drams that I picked up at Bunnahabhain distillery during the 2023 Islay trip. So they’ve sat in small sample bottles for a worryingly long time. However at some point (late 2023 perhaps) I sealed the cap lining with wax in a hope to reduce oxidation. Has it worked, or will the dreaded cardboard off note be there? And what will this whisky snob used to drinking old single casks think about a couple of affordable NASs?
Bunnahabhain | “Stiùredair” | NAS | 46.3% | Official
🌐
Scotch single malt
🪵
first and second fill sherry
🔆
unchillfiltered & natural color
💲
€32-40
🔗
whiskybase (batch unknown)
from a 5cl sample bottle
🗒️ Tasting notes
Nosing: Sweet yellow fruits (apples, apricots, golden sultanas, peaches in syrup), lightly coastal (fresh wakame, pebbles, hint of iodine) and floral (saffron, honey). Some toasted and buttered bread. Creates the impression for a full, viscous mouthfeel. Quite delightful.
Drinking: Sweet, medium-full mouthfeel. More yellow fruits, clementines, caramel, on malty base with a well-integrated light peat. Vanilla, gooseberries in the finish.
💭 Comments
Really tasty, actually. For a non-age-statement I’m impressed. It’s not complex, especially in the palate, but it delivers a substantial experience without youthful sharpness. I had thought this would be some peaty Bunna expression, but supposedly it is similar to the 12yo but with less age, and more sherry. Online, many people are saying the extra money for the 12 is worth it (and I’d concur). But for anyone on a strict budget, picking this up at €32 is a lot of whisky for the money, and a Bunna 12 is nearly 50% higher in price.
Stiùredair means helmsman, referring to the guy in the classic Bunna logo.
Deliciousness
Fun factor
Value for money
Verdict
⚫🟡🟢
⚫🟡⚫
⚫⚫🟢
A NAS with nothing to be shamed about
Bunnahabhain | “Toiteach A Dhà” | NAS | 46.3% | Official
🌐
Scotch single malt
🪵
ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry
🔆
unchillfiltered & natural color
💲
€42-50
🔗
whiskybase (batch unknown)
from a 5cl sample bottle
🗒️ Tasting notes
Nosing: First impression of really dry wood and peat. Then some of the yellow fruits peek out (sultanas), toasted nuts, along with saline and coastal notes.
Drinking: The taste is sweetish and really briney, add to that a little drying. Flavours of heavy, earthy peat, assorted nuts, and dry sherry. The sweetness fades quickly in the finish, but the peat lingers long.
💭 Comments
Again, it’s fine everyday whisky, which plays a few cards to good effect: peat, brine, and sweet fruits. To me personally, a little less balanced and intriguing than the Stiùredair, but for the peat lover this will work a treat. Not quite on a par with with the Kilchoman Sanaig at this price point I would say, unless one specifically prefers the brine over the sherry aspect.
Toiteach A Dhà means “Smoky Two”, as a follow up to the previous Toiteach expression.
Deliciousness
Fun factor
Value for money
Verdict
⚫🟡⚫
⚫🟡⚫
⚫⚫🟢
The peaty brine of life, on a budget
Yes, both were a pleasant surprise, and I’m very happy to report no obvious mini-bottle effect. But still, spending so long time in a mini bottle, there might be some difference to a sample poured straight form the large bottle. Stay tuned for an experiment I’ve had going for nearly a year to test just that with some Arran!
DuckDrams 
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