UUahouua Pinot Noir Single Malt comes to us from Austria. They distill the whisky (WIESky) themselves and then age it and finish it in Pinot Noir barrels for this expression. According to the translated version of their site the “storage is classic in sherry and port casks, in red and Süßweinfässern, as well as in new barrels from around the world”. So it’s a bit hard to know exactly what the process is, but it definitely doesn’t taste, smell or look like it was aged in Pinot Noir barrels the entire time. Based on the experience and what I could get translated from the site I’m inclined to say it was finished and not fully aged.
UUahouua Pinot Noir Single Malt Info
Region: Wachu, Austria
Distiller: Wieser
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Pinot Noir
Age: 7 Years
ABV: 40%
Natural Color
Price: $50*
UUahouua Pinot Noir Single Malt Review
EYE
Amber
NOSE
Grainy malt and young craft whisky-like sawdusty oak mixed with a bit of grape and lemon peels. A light bit of red and pink Starbursts (waxy candy) sit below along with some chalk and old chocolate covered cherries.
PALATE
Youthful grainy malt, “craft” sawdust, red & pink Starbursts and some chalk. There’s a note that resembles dehydrated raspberries, but other than that it’s done. Not a very complex whisky.
FINISH
Short drop of grainy malt, caramel and chalk.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Not balanced, thin body and a chalky-meets-watery feel.
OVERALL
UUahouua Pinot Noir Single Malt is light, grainy and chalky. The strangest element of the whisky are the notes that make me think of pink and red Starbursts. There’s a waxy “red fruit candy” nature to it that sidles up next to the chalky nature. It makes for an interesting experience, but one I don’t want to repeat on a regular basis.
Like the UUahouua Sherry, the UUahouua Pinot Noir Single Malt would definitely benefit from being bottled at no less than 46% and non-chill filtered. When you’re dealing with whisky that’s this young, and spends its life in re-fill barrels, you need to give it every fighting chance it can get. Using less water and leaving the oils right where they are would help a lot. I’m very curious to try this at full CS.
On a side-note, I love the glass corks UUahouua uses on their bottles. Tight fit with the o-ring and no actual cork to shrink or deteriorate over the years. A wonderful bottle.
SCORE: 76/100 (C)
*Disclosure: This UUahouua Pinot Noir Single Malt was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.