Origin: Trentino Alto Adige (Italy)
Type: Italian Malt Whisky
Strength: 48%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Wine
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Puni (Ebensperger family)
Average price: € 75.00
Official website: www.puni.com
Vote: 85/100
The Arte series from Puni is the one that, so far, has convinced me the most in its various expressions, and this year it’s back in the single malt version as the 2022, released in October of this year.
Matured for over five years (5.4 to be precise) in ex-Merlot casks from the South Tyrolean Nals Margreid winery, it produced 4,930 bottles at the same price as the previous edition.
Whisky peated in a hetero-directed manner, acquiring the smoky notes from a previous distillation that had left its own peaty ‘aftertaste’.
This bottling is one of the last to come from foreign grain distillation, since 2019 the supply of raw materials (including yeast) comes from Italy.
Tasting notes
The first impression on the nose is of aromatic herbs, very intense, with thyme and marjoram spreading copiously over red grapes, blueberry, juniper, chocolate and toasted nuts. The smoky note grows over time, along with a tart currant component and floral brush strokes. Curious.
On the palate, red fruits take over, a charge of sour fruit riding on herbs and spices (black pepper, cloves) counterbalanced by a sweeter side of baked apple, pine nuts, milk chocolate, cereal bar. A carpet of smoke at the bottom. Along the length, more nuts and a hint of apple strudel.
Quite long finish with vegetal and tannic connotations of red fruits, chocolate, apple and roasted herbs.
A curious experiment, offering a different and original but not entirely accomplished dram, which would perhaps have benefited from double maturation and not entirely in ex-wine, which creates more streaks than depth. But the route is interesting and deserves attention.