Killowen 10 Year Pinot Noir Burgundy Finish (Bonded Experimental Series)

Concluding my series on this brand, I'm reviewing a 10-year-old that was matured in a former Pinot Noir cask from Burgundy, differing slightly from the listed bottle with a 52.5% ABV. The nose begins with a moderate sourness from cooked sour cherries, slightly tart raspberries, and a light sweetness like shortbread cookies, followed by dark chocolate-covered almonds, then freeze-dried strawberries, mildly musty grapes, and stewed plums. This transitions to light baking spices and toasted sourdough bread with minimal ethanol burn. The taste has a thin mouthfeel, starting with creamy orchard fruit that quickly shifts to a moderately bitter and sour spice. This slowly fades into dark chocolate-covered raisins and honeycomb, then musty grapes, dried cranberries, and nectarines, eventually leading to light baking spices and charred sourdough bread with a noticeable ethanol burn. The finish is short, featuring dark chocolate-covered raisins, toasted almonds, dried cherries, honeycomb, and lightly charred sourdough bread. This is surprisingly thin for its 52.5% ABV, drinking more like a 43% with very muted flavors that are hard to discern. Overall, I consider this an average whiskey; the combination of young Irish whiskey and the former Pinot Noir cask from Burgundy results in an interesting dram that leans heavily toward sourness, with a mix of tart red berries and mild sweetness, alongside moderate bitterness and a short finish. My aversion to sour flavors is stronger than most, so others might find this more appealing. However, to me, this seems like another one of this brand's premium experiments for consumers that doesn't justify its high price of $90 for a 375ml bottle. For my palate, this brand is a gamble; they shouldn't be charging a premium price for their current experimental approach. I'm hopeful they will eventually produce outstanding whiskey, as I know they are capable, but for now, I'll avoid their new releases as they aren't worth the risk.