Nine Leaves 2017 Ex-Wente Red Wine Single Cask #15

Profile: The Nine Leaves 2017 Ex-Wente Red Wine Single Cask #15 at a glance

• Japanese rum with barrel character: This release from Nine Leaves Distillery in Japan draws much of its identity from a former red wine cask.
• Single cask, not a standard bottling: Cask #15 stands for a limited release with a clearly individual profile and noticeable personality.
• Powerful and unadorned: At 60.0% ABV, the rum is bottled at cask strength, with no added coloring and a natural presentation.
• Wine-driven depth: The ex-Wente red wine cask contributes fruity, lightly dry and structured nuances to the rum.

Portrait: What defines the Nine Leaves 2017 Ex-Wente Red Wine Single Cask #15

Nine Leaves Distillery in Japan is known for a modern, restrained approach to rum: precise, direct, and with a strong focus on what the cask can contribute. The Nine Leaves 2017 Ex-Wente Red Wine Single Cask #15 makes that style especially clear, combining Japanese distilling craft with the influence of a former red wine cask from Wente.

Distilled in 2017, this original bottling was released without coloring, allowing the rum’s character to remain fully transparent. The result is not a loud style statement, but a layered spirit that shows how strongly a single cask can shape aroma, texture, and overall expression. Rather than masking its origins, it lets them speak through structure, depth, and elegant barrel notes.

At cask strength, the bottling feels especially alive in the glass. It is a rum for drinkers who appreciate authentic single cask releases and are interested in the interplay between rum and wine cask influence. Taken slowly, it reveals a balance of power, fruit, and spice that is typical of distinctive special releases.

Tasting Notes: How the Nine Leaves 2017 Ex-Wente Red Wine Single Cask #15 tastes

• Nose: Ripe red fruit, a gentle wine-like tone, and subtle oak notes shape the first impression.
• Palate: On the tongue, the rum is bold, spicy, and marked by dark berries, tannin, and a touch of sweetness.
• Texture: The cask strength gives it weight and warmth without losing its sense of finesse.
• Finish: The finish is long, dry-fruity, and accompanied by a soft red wine spice.