Origin: Trentino Alto Adige (Italy)
Type: Italian Malt Whisky
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and Virgin Oak
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Puni (Ebensperger family)
Average price: € 75.00
Official website: www.puni.com
Vote: 86/100
One year after the first bottling, Puni Arte, a limited edition from the Glorenza distillery, returns, representing (yet another) innovation in the Ebensperger family’s way of making whisky.
Starting with a mix of cereals (barley, rye and wheat) at the base of the recipe, which after distillation first spent almost three years in ex-Bourbon casks and the next five in virgin oak casks. All this was combined with Puni’s ‘first single malt’ to create this second edition, with a slightly higher (and welcome) alcohol content and a very affordable price for a run of just 1,700 bottles.
Tasting notes
On the nose, the wood spices are very evident, with nutmeg, cinnamon and a touch of cloves caressing the nostrils: the virgin casks have worked hard in those five years. But there’s more than just wood, softening the profile are pear, baked apple, vanilla, marzipan, macaroon, maple syrup and lemon drop. Slightly toasty impression on the length. Classic and spicy.
The spicy charge remains on the palate, though less pronounced, with an abundant sprinkling of white pepper that characterizes a sparkling profile of yellow fruit (apple, peach, apricot), vanilla, walnuts and almonds, a touch of licorice, an impression of chocolate, leather. Full and oily, on the length it expresses a slight saltiness that cleans the mouth.
The finish is quite long and dry, saline, spicy, vanilla, chocolate and lightly roasted.
A more classic profile, but not a trivial one, Arte gives up the peatiness of the first edition for a markedly spicy and full-bodied version, also helped by the stronger alcohol content. It may not meet with the approval of some due to the influence of virgin casks, but for me it offers a fine and pleasant balance.