Rua American Single Malt Sherry Cask Finish

Aged 29 months. In new 25-gallon American oak, finished in former sherry casks. (Uncertain about aging details; unsure if 29 months is total age or pre-finish, or if aged entirely in ex-sherry.) 57.0% abv; 114 proof. Opened 1.5 months prior. Nose: Plums, grapes, red wine, mulled wine, cinnamon, allspice, oak tannins, and moderate alcohol. Palate: Ripe plums, figs, raisins, petit syrah, chocolate-covered cherries, and coffee cake. The finish is medium-long, with thick wine and oak coating the palate, gingerbread, rye bread, less alcohol burn than anticipated, and various dark fruits. Another success from Great Wagon Road Distilling's Rua line. I noticed this sitting on shelves at many local liquor stores but never bought it. A friend did, and we swapped for it. This bottle is impressive. It's very wine-forward, sometimes resembling a dark red wine aged in bourbon barrels rather than the other way around. Abundant sweet and dark fruit flavors combine well with spices and bread-like notes from the oak and malt. Unlike less expensive port and wine-finished bourbons I've tried, which have a candy-like, artificial flavor that detracts from the bourbon, this doesn't feel artificial. Being a single malt contributes to its balanced profile. Most local whiskeys are a joke, but Rua stands up to Westland and Balcones in my view. I'm unclear on the aging timeline; it states 29 months and details about the sherry cask finish are scarce. My estimation is 29 months total age, with roughly 1.5 years in the 25-gallon American oak, similar to the American Single Malt, and about 1 year in the former sherry casks.