Raasay Unpeated Bordeaux Red Wine Cask (Skotchtoberfest #14)

I’ve historically liked expressions that saw some time in wine casks, so these last two, particularly the peated one due up tomorrow, are ones I’ve been particularly looking forward to. Let’s go.

Raasay Unpeated Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine Cask, Island (Raasay) Single Malt, 63.5% ABV

Minutia: Distilled from unpeated barley and matured for 3 years in an ex-Bordeaux red wine cask. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Tawny; 1.4.

Nose: Malty, musty, winey.

Taste: Winey malt, like it was soaked or marinated in red wine or something. Earthy spices (not each of those notes separately; spices which are earthy).

Finish: Light sweetness, hot/peppery. Medium.

I don’t dislike this, but nothing really calls to me. There’s nothing obviously struggling to get through the ABV, but it does feel like the ABV is running the show, and I wonder how a more aged or diluted version would taste. I’m still anticipating the peated version, by my enthusiasm is a bit tampered.

Score: 72