Origin: Trentino Alto Adige (Italy)
Type: Italian Mountain Single Malt Whisky
Strength: 43.3%ABV
Ageing casks: New oak and ex-wine
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Villa de Varda
Average price: € 63.00
Official website: www.villadevarda.com/whiskyinquota
Vote: 79/100
Let’s conclude the tasting tour of the whiskies made by Villa de Varda with the second bottling with a finishing in casks that have contained Italian wine, this time the Passito di Pantelleria, in an ideal thread that unites north and south Italy.
To tell the truth, the two single casks made exclusively for Eataly, the rye and the Spruce Cask, are missing from the roll-call; who knows, maybe sooner or later I’ll be able to get my hands, nose and mouth on them.
Tasting notes
The nose is overwhelmingly woody, lots of freshly cut wood, spices (nutmeg, cinnamon), nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, pine nuts), pear, honey, candied orange. And it is precisely with the latter that the sensation soon veers towards that of panettone, traversed by a light vinous vein, while the focus shifts to a decisive balsamic note that contributes to a good overall balance while betraying its great youth.
On the palate, there is a slight initial alcoholic exuberance, bringing spices (pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg) to the foreground on notes that veer towards the sweetness taken up by the nose, in which nuts, pear (in juice), candied fruit and honey are found again, but with a bitter aspect of liquorice root and aniseed acting as a contrast. The balsamic part also returns, although in the background.
The finish is quite short and balsamic of spices, nuts, candied orange, honey and yeast dough.
The finish would perhaps have needed more work, here the influence is perceptible but still not very incisive compared to what the new casks bring. All in all pleasant and clean, but still needs to express itself fully.