Origin: Trentino Alto Adige (Italy)
Type: Italian Malt Whisky
Strength: 49%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Sherry, ex-Port and ex-Scotch
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Puni (Ebensperger family)
Average price: € 150.00
Official website: www.puni.com
Vote: 81/100
The first in what promises to be a new series of bottlings available exclusively in the distillery’s shop, the Puni Cubo pays homage with its name to the decidedly recognisable shape of its premises, designed by architect Werner Tscholl.
A limited edition of 206 bottles with a hand-written label, after more than nine years of maturation in ten decidedly small 50-litre casks, divided between ex-Sherry, ex-Port and ex-Scotch, leading, according to the distillery, to a strong evaporation of the distillate, bottled in any case not at cask strength.
The decision to follow Scotland (and beyond) down the road of Distillery Exclusives is an interesting move with a view to relaunching a label that is struggling a little to get into the hearts of aficionados, whom are invited to visit the beautiful distillery to maybe change their minds.
Tasting notes
The opening nose sees the grain component of the spirit (which I remind you is not a single malt, like almost all Puni bottlings) dominate the aromas, with copious amounts of gum, acetone and hay. Giving it time in the glass, it opens up to darker, rougher notes of nutmeg, fruit (sour cherries, dates, cranberries), almonds, walnuts and cocoa, with an undercurrent of chestnut honey, shea butter and freshly cut wood.
Rather lively alcohol in the mouth, with spicy scratches of ginger, aniseed and nutmeg on a profile that picks up on the bitter and vegetal components of the nose, enriching them in short with nuts, red fruits, a hint of tropical fruit (pineapple, grapefruit), liquorice, salted caramel, brown sugar and cocoa powder. Rather dry and with a discreet tannicity.
Not very long finish of vegetable notes, cocoa, ginger, nuts, brown sugar and spices.
I honestly don’t understand the point of the ex-Scotch casks in the mix, which don’t seem to have left any mark on the finished product unlike the ex-Sherry and ex-Port casks. Be that as it may, it remains a pleasant but not unforgettable dram, with a few out-of-tune moments and no particular points of interest. Not much for such an exclusive and not exactly cheap edition.