Bunnahabhain Mòine Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml

Bunnahabhain has always been the outlier on Islay, building its core range on unpeated spirit while its neighbours went the other way. Mòine, Gaelic for peat, is the distillery turning that convention around and putting smoke back into the house style.

Even peated, it stays recognisably Bunnahabhain. The nose is sweet grass and dry smoke with sea air, nuts and a nougat note, and there is none of the medicinal weight found further down the coast. The palate is smooth and gently smoky over malt, oak and a creamy middle, with ginger and pepper spice, coastal salt and a hint of cured fish.

It is bottled at natural colour without chill filtration, which shows in the texture. A good entry point to peated Islay whisky for anyone who finds the heavier expressions overwhelming.