Whisky : Bunnahabhain 10 Year SMWS 10.199 “Norse Mythology”

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 59%

Cask : Ex-Bourbon (8Y), First Fill PX Hogshead (2Y)

Age : 10 Years (Distilled 1 Sept. 2009)

Nose :  Dried fruits, chocolate, and herbaceous spice.  Dried plums and dates were followed by the slightly chemical impression of dry erase markers.  Brown sugar and chocolate covered fruits emerged with time while a lemon-lime citrus hung in the background.  Herbal notes of thyme, sage, and lemon.

Palate :  Thick, oily, and herbaceous with rich notes of fruit and chocolate.  Thyme, rosemary, and sage led the way to Scarborough fair where stalls sold dark chocolate covered fruit, orange peel candies, candied cherries, and a pleasant earthy/mossiness hung in the air— foot and horse traffic through the fair probably.

Finish :  Lingering dry chocolate and dried berries.

Score : 7

Mental Image : Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Notes : Second place at a recent local tasting with lots of enjoyable fruits and a nice thick mouthfeel.  The dram was syrupy and sweet but nicely balanced by the herbal, occasionally bitter, notes that appeared at the beginning and end of the dram.  Neither heavily sherried drams, nor Bunnahabhain are usually my preference, but they worked well together in this and if I were to reach for something sherried (and I don’t usually) this would be a nice one to have at hand.

Originally named “Norse and Hawaiian mythology” outside of the US the SMWS description referenced kālua cooking in an ʻimu, an earthen oven, and potions made by Norse jötunn.  Our local group anticipated this bottle and was slightly disappointed that the name had to be changed for TTB approval.  If only the US trademark office would take a harder line on companies with no connection to Hawaii using the name and imagery.  

The name was evocative and the bottle description equally so as it included more imagery than meaningful flavor notes with descriptions of the earthen oven and skinny-dipping.  I am not sure I really got that at all— I certainly did not get anything that put my mind toward baking meats and foods.  Anyway, cue the Simon and Garfunkel because this dram only takes me to one place.