Rua American Single Malt Sherry Cask Finish

Age 29 months Aged in 25 gallon new American oak Finished in ex-sherry casks (There is limited information on the aging and I cannot tell if the 29 months is total age or age pre-finish, or if this was entirely aged in ex-sherry.) 57.0% abv; 114 proof Open 1.5 months Nose - Plums, grapes, red wine, mulled wine, cinnamon, allspice, oak tannins, and medium ethanol. Palate - Ripe plums, figs, raisins, petit syrah, chocolate covered cherries, and coffee cake. Finish is medium-long with viscous wine and oak coating the tongue, gingerbread, rye bread, less than expected ethanol burn, and all kinds of dark fruits. Another winner in the Rua line from Great Wagon Road Distilling. I'll see a couple bottles of this lingering on the shelf at most local ABC stores, and I never pulled the trigger. Well, my friend did, and we split it in a trade. I'm impressed by this bottle. It is heavy on wine notes, at times it resembles a dark red wine aged in bourbon barrels instead of the inverse. Tons of dark and sweet fruit notes and a nice mix of spices and bread notes from the oak and malt. It doesn't taste gimmicky like the cheaper port and wine finished bourbons I've had. They have more of a candy/bubble gum flavor that to me doesn't enhance the bourbon at all. This, partially because it is a single malt, tastes harmonious. NC homegrown whiskey is mostly a joke, but Rua can compete with Westland and Balcones in my opinion. I have no clue about the aging timeline of this, it only says 29 months and information on the sherry cask finish is hard to find. My guess is 29 months is the total age, with ~1.5 years in the 25 gal. American oak like the American Single Malt and ~1 year in the ex-sherry.