Whisky: Amrut 6 Year (2014) for Whisky Neat

Country/Region: India

ABV: 60%

Cask: Oloroso Sherry Butt

Age: 6 Years (Distilled July 2014, Bottled Sept. 2020)

Nose: Ginger and pine resin filled the room while up-close notes of leather, dried fruit, and dark chocolate emerged. A spicy undercurrent carried hints of sweet chili peppers and cherries with coffee, cola, and pickled plums. Water brought out honey and mint with subtle notes of melon and spice.

Palate: Medium-bodied and rich with spice, chocolate, and leather. A tad prickly upfront with tingling notes of peppercorns, licorice, lemongrass, and star anise. Sweet peppers and dark chocolate came to mind with a savory undercurrent of leather and spearmint that lingered through the finish. A few drops of water brought out more chocolate and earth on the palate while the herbal notes faded to the background— though they did still emerge and linger through on the finish.

Finish: Lingering notes of spearmint and spice.

Score: 4

Mental Image: Espresso-Mint Flavored Gum

Notes: My initial reaction was that this was a pretty spicy dram— loads of spice and prickly spirited heat. As notes of licorice and menthol transformed into spearmint, my second thought was that my palate must be broken. This Amrut was not the first oddly herbal one I have had, but the flavors were just so unusual, unlike any other bottle I have recently reviewed. I could never quite decide if I liked the profile or not.

A few drops of water helped bring order to the experience: the nose calmed down, allowing more fruit to appear, while the palate became much more chocolatey and earthy. Those herbal, almost medicinal or spearmint-like flavors, did not wholly disappear; they still waited near the end and carried on through the finish, though some days I noticed them more than others.

Overall, I do not know what to make of this dram. It had a few classic oloroso elements, but the flavors were otherwise totally unlike what I expected. The herbal profile was not to my taste, but it was fascinating, and I wish I had an entire bottle to share with friends.