Whisky : Amrut Single Malt Peated

Country/Region : India (Bangalore)

ABV : 46%

Cask : Oak (ex-bourbon presumably)

Tasting : Neat in a Glencairn @ Home

Nose : There is nothing quite like the sweet smoke of a smoldering grass fire. This dram hits it pretty close with a deliciously complex smoke. It turns between the spice of charred wood and the faint savory notes of a chimney-smoke infused autumn evening breeze. My wife found it to be more of a rubbery mineral smoke, similar to a rubber slipper baking on hot pavement. A reminder perhaps of the individual nature of scent recognition as a product of lived experience. Either way, we both found it extremely promising.

Palate : Orange and sweet aniseed leap out, flavors with a heady full bodied smoke at their back. The whiskey penetrates the sense, clearing them like chili oil. It has a slight brine or pickled orange peel to it, maybe from wherever they sourced their peated barley.

Finish : A long lingering smokey sweet citrus smolders across the palate.

Score : 7

Mental Image : Traveling the dusty roads of rural northern India, the smoke from roadside brick kilns hang low in the semi-tropical air.

Notes : This dram is a solid peated whisky with some intriguing tropical citrus and spice notes. You could down this without thinking about it just as easily as you could slowly sip it hunting for some recognition of the flavor notes that flitter across your palate. I wish I had been able to find a bottle of the Cask Strength version, but I really enjoyed this bottle far more than I expected and it disappeared far quicker than I would like. I’ve generally enjoyed the Amrut drams I have had the pleasure of trying and this one was no different— though easier on the wallet. I was sad when this bottle was done as there is no way I can easily replace it unless some local distributer picks up Amrut. I used to be pessimistic about that likelihood, but after Paul John and Rampur were both picked up and now easily available, I have hope that India’s giant will soon be added to that list. I have been very tempted to pick up a new bottle every time I’m traveling and come across one, though I usually like to grab something new. I will be keeping my eye out for Amrut eventually appearing in my local market, when it does this will probably be the first bottle I bring home.